IOC threatens to suspend IOA for squabbling

NEW DELHI: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has threatened to suspend the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) citing ongoing internal disputes, governance shortcomings and ongoing court cases unless the IOA puts its house in order by putting in place an elected governing body by December.
It was deja vu for the SC as solicitor general Tushar Mehta had on August 18 informed the SC that “as a nation, we are worried with the development of the Delhi HC appointing a committee of administrators (CoA). The international bodies consider any management other than the elected body as a third party or outsider and suspend the national sports body”.
On August 18, the SC had stalled takeover of the IOA by the CoA comprising ex-SC judge Anil R Dave, former chief election commissioner SY Quraishi and former external affairs secretary Vikas Swarup, as directed by the HC on August 16.
The bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and Hima Kohliasked the sports secretary to coordinate with IOC for finding a “neutral person” to become the secretary general of IOA till an elected body took over the reins.
Accepting Mehta’s suggestion, the bench said it would nominate a retired SC judge for preparation of the electoral college and conducting of free and fair elections to IOA.
On August 18, Mehta had cautioned against CoA taking over the reins of IOA and said, “There is a 99% chance of IOA getting suspended by the IOC which would prevent Indian athletes from participating in any international sporting event, including the Olympics. This is essentially a matter relating to national prestige in the international stage.”
The IOC’s September 8 letter, while warning suspension of IOA, said “any such suspension of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of India would mean, in particular that the athletes of India would no longer be able to represent the country and compete under the country’s flag/name at the Olympic Games and other international sports events.”