Kalmadi declines Indian Olympic Association post, Ministry showcauses body

“I thank the Indian Olympic Association for conferring the honour of Life President on me. However, I do not feel that it would be appropriate for me to accept this honour at this time,” Kalmadi said in a letter addressed to IOA President N Ramachandran. 

“I am confident that my name will be cleared and I will defer acceptance of the honour till such time,” he added. Kalmadi along with another tainted former President Abhay Singh Chautala were elevated to Life Presidents by the IOA at its Annual General Meeting in Chennai on Tuesday. 

The move triggered a storm with the Ministry issuing a showcause notice to the IOA and also threatening to severe ties with the body if it failed to sack the duo, of which Kalmadi decided to step back. 

“This move is against the constitution of IOA and is not acceptable to the Sports Ministry. I am disappointed by the decision because both are facing cases of corruption. We want transparency in sports. Till the time, these two don’t resign or are sacked, we will not deal with the IOA,” Sports Minister Vijay Goel said. 

Earlier, while the IOA top brass went incommunicado for some time before Associate vice-President Narinder Batra, who is now the President of International Hockey Federation, criticised the move and called for the duo to step aside. 

“I might be quitting the IOA soon because I can’t be associated with something which does not make sense to me in terms of good governance. They should not accept this position till the time their names are cleared,” Batra said.