IOC alleges that India has broken the rules of the Olympic Charter.
In unprecedented events that unfolded after India denied visas to Pakistani shooters for the Shooting World Cup in Delhi, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has now decided to 'suspend all discussions' with India with respect to the hosting of global sports events.
According to the IOC, unless the Indian government makes written assurances to the world body, the country can't be allowed to host any such event in the future.
Here is the full statement by the IOC:
"The IOC restricted the withdrawal of recognition as an Olympic qualification event to the 25m rapid fire pistol competition in which the two Pakistani athletes were supposed to participate. This happened in the interest of the other 500 athletes from 61 countries participating in the other events who are already in India for their competition.
"Since becoming aware of the issue and in spite of intense last-minute joint efforts by the IOC, the ISSF and the Indian National Olympic Committee (NOC), and discussions with the Indian government authorities, no solution has been found to allow the Pakistani delegation to enter India in time to compete.
"This situation goes against the fundamental principles of the Olympic charter, in particular the principles of non-discrimination, as well as the IOC's and the Olympic movement's position, reiterated on many occasions over the past few years, that equal treatment must be guaranteed for all participating athletes and sporting delegations at international sports events, without any form of discrimination or political interference from the host country.
"As a result, the IOC executive board also decided to suspend all discussions with the Indian NOC and government regarding the potential applications for hosting future sports and Olympic-related events in India, until clear written guarantees are obtained from the Indian government to ensure the entry of all participants in such events in full compliance with the rules of the Olympic charter -- and to recommend that the international federations (IFs) neither award nor hold sports events in India until the above-mentioned guarantees are obtained."
All the 16 Olympic quotas allotted to New Delhi World Cup were Thursday withdrawn owing to denial of visas to Pakistani shooters in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack.
This was announced by the ISSF president Vladimir Lisin during his address to the season-opening World Cup at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range.
Pakistan shooters' participation in the tournament became the bone of contention since the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama killed more than 40 CRPF personnel last Thursday.
It was learnt that the International Olympic Committee is deliberating on the matter and a decision of its Executive Board is likely to be issued at 10 pm local time of Switzerland (02:30 IST Friday), officials said.
"The International Olympic Committee informed us this World Cup will not be included in the competitions for Olympic quotas. In this case, the quotas will be distributed in another World Cup. No one can be discriminated and we have to follow the IOC decision as part of the IOC family," Lisin said during his address.
National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) president Raninder Singh, though, said that they are still looking for a resolution so that the quotas for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics are not withheld.
"Nothing is cancelled as of now. The status as of now is we don't know. We are waiting. There are meetings that are going on where the position is being assessed by the IOC and the government. Everyone is working very hard but it is a very peculiar position. It is a very unprecedented scenario and it is unfortunate," Raninder said.
When asked about Lisin's address, during which he clearly stated that the quotas have been dropped, Raninder said a clarification would be issued.
"He didn't say that (all 16 quotas have been scrapped). He said may not be able to give quotas. He didn't say it's been withdrawn. You can take the clarification," Raninder, who is also the chairman of the organising committee, added.
The shooters PTI spoke to moments after Lisin's address said that the quotas were dropped from their home World Cup.
Denied visas in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack, Pakistan's shooting federation Wednesday wrote to the international body, asking it to drop the two 25m rapid fire pistol quotas for 2020 Olympics.
Pakistan had applied for visas for two shooters -- G M Bashir and Khalil Ahmed -- in the rapid-fire category as the event in New Delhi also serves as a qualifier for the 2020 Olympic games.
(With PTI inputs)