New Delhi: Ousted from the Olympic movement due to tainted officials and government interference more than a year ago, India’s exile came to an end on Tuesday after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) welcomed the country back into the fold within days of fresh elections in the scam-riddled Indian Olympic Association.
“The IOC Executive Board (EB) reinstated the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of India, the Indian Olympic Association, during an ad-hoc meeting in Sochi today,” the IOC said in a statement.
“The EB took this decision following a report about the IOA’s General Assembly and elections for a new Board, which were successfully held on 9 February 2014 and observed by an IOC delegation headed by IOC member Robin Mitchell,” it added.
The IOC lifted the 14-month old ban after the IOA barred charge-framed officials from its fresh election in which World Squash Federation chief and younger brother of BCCI boss N Srinivasan, N Ramachandran, was elected as president.
The decision comes after the IOC’s three observers for the elections left Indian shores “satisfied with the IOA elections promising to submit a “favourable report to the IOC President”.
As a result of the IOC’s decisions, the Indian athletes will now be able to compete under the national flag at international events.
They had been competing as independent athletes ever since the IOA was slapped with a suspension for failing to comply with the Olympic Charter and its statutes, relating specifically to good governance.
The most immediate effect of this will be seen at the ongoing Winter Olympics in Sochi, where the Indians would now be allowed to carry the tri-colour during the closing ceremony after parading through the opening ceremony under an IOC flag.
“It is the first time in Olympic history that a suspension of an NOC has been lifted during an Olympic Games, and the decision will have an immediate impact. Indian athletes entered the Sochi Games under the Olympic flag during the Opening Ceremony on 7 February 2014, and have competed as Independent Olympic Participants,” the IOC said.
At the elections held on Sunday, All India Tennis Association (AITA) chief Anil Khanna was elected Treasurer, marking the exit of corruption-tainted Abhay Singh Chautala and Lalit Bhanot from the IOA.
Chautala and Bhanot had been adamantly trying to fight the elections despite teh IOC’s strong objections but the duo ultimately bowed under pressure when the world body threatened to permanently bar India from the Olympic movement.
It all started 14 months ago when on December 4, 2012, the IOC suspended the IOA for adhering to the government’s Sports Code and for allowing tainted persons to take part in the election process.
In an act of defiance, IOA went ahead with the polls next day. The world body hit back by refusing to recognise Chautala and his team of office-bearers.
The Indian sports fraternity heaved a sigh of relief on the country’s return to the Olympic fold but said the IOA should learn a lesson from the 14 months of suspension so that the embarrassing episode is never repeated.
Sports Minister Jitendra Singh said in the last 14 months of exile “a major step has been taken to clean up Indian sports”.
“In the last one year or so the sportspersons, sports lovers have raised their concerns and their voices. The Government of India had raised its voice in Lausanne (in May last year) and at other forums for lifting ban on India,” he said.
Hockey Olympian Aslam Sher Khan, who is also president of Olympians Association of India, said the new office-bearers of the IOA should work to usher in a new era in Indian sports.
“The new office-bearers of the IOA should learn a lesson from the suspension. They should usher in a new era in India sports by working for the welfare of the athletes,” he said.
“I hope the IOA is not just a body to send Indian athletes for international events. It should involve itself in the overall development of Indian sports,” he added.
The 2008 and 2012 Olympics medallist wrestler Sushil Kumar said he was happy that the three Indian athletes will now be able to walk under the tri-colour during the closing ceremony of the Sochi Winter Games on February 23.
“It’s a great day for all the athletes who put their blood, sweat and tears to represent the country under the Indian tri-colour and win medals. It’s time for everyone to get ready for Commonwealth and Asian Games because now we can participate under the tri-colour and not as independent athletes under the IOC flag,” Sushil said.
“I am happy for Shiva Keshavan and the other two athletes who can now represent the country at the closing ceremony of the Sochi Games. My humble request to all the officials is we don’t want a repeat of the Sochi Olympics,” Sushil said.
“The ban should not have happened at all in first place. All this brought disrepute to our country. It was really disappointing. But, now I can hope it’s a new beginning. Now it’s time to work together and build a better tomorrow.” (PTI)