Game's up for Suresh Kalmadi: International Olympic Committee chief says disgraced CWG boss and friends not eligible to contest IOA polls
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has ruled that it's not possible for Kalmadi to hold any position in the national body as he has been implicated in various scams.
long reign in the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) is finally coming to an end.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has ruled that it's not possible for Kalmadi to hold any position in the national body as he has been implicated in various corruption scandals.
The IOC expressed its view following a letter from IOA vice president Jagdish Tytler, who sought the world body's position with regard to the association's upcoming election.
The IOA election is scheduled on November 25 and present president Kalmadi has expressed his desire to contest again. This despite him being ineligible according to the sports ministry's age and tenure guidelines, as well as his implication in various financial irregularities related to the 2010Delhi Commonwealth Games.
Kalmadi's yearning to continue as the IOA president, a position he has been holding for the last 16 years, may not have gone down well with Congress leader Tytler, who, by taking the initiative and writing to the IOC president, seems to be looking for a larger role in the national Olympic association.
And now it seems Kalmadi's various alleged misdemeanours have finally caught up with him with the IOC putting its foot down and stating in no uncertain terms that it will not like to see him involved in IOA's affairs any more.
Suspension is final
The world body, in reply to Tytler's letter, spelt out that Kalmadi, vice-president V.K. Verma and joint secretary Lalit Bhanot should be suspended from all functions within the IOA. As a result, the candidature of these three men for any position within the association becomes untenable.
Tytler had written to IOC president Jacques Rogge, seeking the world body's opinion on the upcoming election. The reply from Christophe de Kepper, IOC director general, referred to the stand taken by its Ethics Commission.
"Messrs Kalmadi, Verma and Bhanot were all tried by a criminal court pursuant to the law on corruption linked to a sports event. The court even sentenced them to preventive detention for several months. For his part, Mr Kalmadi was released, but banned from leaving the national territory unless agreed by the court.
"In view of these circumstances, the situation of Messrs Kalmadi, Verma and Bhanot is likely to lead to the application of point B.5 of the Code of Ethics," the memorandum of the Ethics Commission said. Point 3.5 in the code states that: "The Olympic parties shall use due care and diligence in fulfilling their mission. They must not act in a manner likely to tarnish the reputation of the Olympic Movement."
The memorandum adds that though one should be presumed innocent till proven guilty, keeping the three IOA office-bearers away from any new set-up was required to maintain the integrity of the Olympic Movement.
"Although, owing to the application of the presumption of innocence, the Ethics Commission cannot take any final decision on the situation of Messrs Kalmadi, Verma and Bhanot, it must however recommend a provisional measure to protect the reputation of the Olympic Movement regarding all three men, meaning their suspension from all functions within the Olympic Movement and in particular, the IOA until the final decision by the competent court in India," it said.
The commission alleged the IOA did not make its stand clear on the status of these three persons despite being asked to do so on several occasions.
"At no time, and in spite of numerous reminders and requests from the IOC, did the NOC clearly make any statement regarding the situation of these three officials nor take any provisional measure concerning them," it said.
The Ethics Commission's directive comes a fortnight after the IOC said it wants to send observers to the IOA election. After making much noise that it amounts to interference in its internal affairs, the IOA said it did not want to pick up a fight with its parent body.
The IOC's insistence in sending observers to the polls implies that the national body will not get its way this time. The IOA has, on several occasions, employed delaying tactics and tried to deflect attention from the matter at hand.
There have been instances in the past when national Olympic committees have been suspended because of political interference. The case of Kuwait is a recent example.
No support within The IOC is also very sensitive to corruption matters and any controversy on that count is not taken lightly. Tytler has forwarded the Ethics Commissions's memorandum to acting IOA president V.K. Malhotra.
It is ironical to note that Kalmadi, who is a Congress MP, does not seem to have much support within his own party.
If Kalmadi is barred from the polls, the most likely candidate likely to contest from his camp is Indian Boxing Federation chairman Abhay Chautala. Kalmadi, who represents Pune in the Lok Sabha, has been IOA president since 1996.