Laussane: The Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued a final warning to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to conduct its quadrennial elections in accordance with the Olympic Charter at the earliest, failing which lead to a suspension.
The EB on Thursday also decided to postpone the IOC Session due to take place in Mumbai in May 2023 until September or October 2023.
The IOC said that depending on the decisions taken during its next meeting in December 2022 relating to the NOC of India, the IOC EB will decide as to whether the IOC Session in 2023 should be maintained in India or relocated.
The IOA chief Narinder resigned from his post as IOC member and president of the International Hockey Federation in July citing personal reasons.
After Batra’s resignation from his post at the IOA, former All India Tennis Association (AITA) chief Anil Khanna was appointed acting president of the IOA.
Last month Delhi High Court appointed a three-member Committee of Administrators (COA) to take over the affairs of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and conduct elections.
“The EB received a report on the situation of the NOC of India highlighting the recurrent internal disputes and governance issues within the NOC, which have caused delays in the holding of the NOC quadrennial elections that should have taken place in December 2021 and have affected the ongoing development of sport in the country. It was noted that the NOC had already been suspended by the IOC for similar reasons between 2012 and 2014,” the IOC said.
“In view of the ongoing internal disputes, governance shortcomings, and continuing court cases, the EB decided to issue a final warning and consider the immediate suspension of the NOC of India at the next EB meeting in December 2022 if, by then, the NOC of India is not able to:
“(1)address and resolve its governance issues to the IOC’s satisfaction, in the interests of sport and the athletes; and
“(2)operate properly through its governing bodies, i.e. the Executive Committee and General Assembly, and fulfill its obligations, in particular by holding its quadrennial elections in accordance with the Olympic Charter.”
Any suspension of the National Olympic Council (NOC) means that the athletes of the country will no longer be able to represent their country and compete under the country’s flag/name at the Olympic Games and other international sports events, as the case.
The NOC will no longer entitle to operate as a NOC according to its role as defined in the Olympic Charter. In addition, it will no longer receive any funding from the Olympic Movement until the suspension is lifted.
