The IOC at its Executive Board meeting in Lausanne on Tuesday had decided to suspend IOA citing reasons for its failure to comply with the Olympic Charter and its statutes, failure to inform the IOC in a timely manner, and as a protective measure against Government interference in the IOA’s election process.

The Indian Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Jitendra Singh on Wednesday termed the IOC’s decision as “very unfortunate”

He said that he will talk to all stakeholders, including the National Sports Federations, the eminent sportspersons, civil society in order to chart a way out of the situation created by IOC. He said he would also take up the matter with the IOC.

“The Government of India strongly feels that the IOC’s decision to attribute suspension to Government interference in the IOA’s election process is entirely misplaced, as the National Sports Development Code includes such age and tenure guidelines for office-bearers of Sports Bodies as are enshrined in the Olympic Charter itself. They are similar to the practices followed by the IOC and are drawn from the Constitution of the IOC and have been upheld by the Courts of Law in India, “ the Minister said.

“All that the Sports Code seeks to achieve is to ensure that the election of the IOA and others sports bodies are fair, transparent and in consonance with the Olympic Charter” he said.

However, the Minister noted that it was not the Sports Code alone, but the IOA’s Constitution which was not aligned with the Olympic Charter was the reason for its suspension.

Squarely blaming the IOA for the situation, the Minister said had it amended its Constitution to include Government guidelines on age and tenure, the suspension could have been avoided.

He admitted that the Government does not have any mandate or jurisdiction, but was concerned.

“Two days ago I had met IOA officials and warned them that such a ban can come and amend your Constitution. But today instead of playing the blame game, the need is to have a future strategy,” he said.

The Executive Board of IOC has also confirmed that the IOA is not entitled to hold any elections until all pending issues are resolved and the Executive Board decides to lift the suspension. With this decision of IOC, IOA will no longer be entitled to exercise any activity or right, including financial support, conferred upon it by the Olympic Charter or the IOC until the suspension is lifted by the Executive Board.

The Minister said : “The Government is also keen that the principles of ethics & good governance enshrined in the Olympic Charter should be rigidly adhered to in the elections of the IOA.”

It was with the intention of resolving the impasse that the Government offered to hold a meeting with the IOC for discussing issues of good governance and fair election processes in Indian sports bodies, he said.

The Government will take all possible measures to protect the interests of Indian sportspersons so that they can continue to participate in international sports meets under the Indian National Flag, he said.