IOA EC recommends de-recognition of IABF

The decision was taken at a closed-door meeting of the Executive Council of the association here at a hotel on Thursday. In a statement issued jointly by IOA president N Ramachandran and secretary Rajeev Mehta, the council also finalised the change of venue of the annual general meeting from Chennai as requested by “several members”. The meeting will now be held at the registered office of the body, IOA Bhawan in New Delhi. 

Media was not invited nor given entry to the hotel when the IOA council met early on Thursday morning. Even the sources close to the IOA president did now know what happened until in the evening when the IOA came up with the draft of the recommendations. It may be recalled that a meeting of the executive council was held in New Delhi on November 7 without the participation of president N Ramachandran, where the majority wanted a change of venue of the IOA AGM, which is to elect a new set of office-bearers. 

“The president and secretary appreciated the views of the members of the executive council at their meeting held on November 7 and since most of the issues were taken up for discussion at the IOA meeting on November 9, the minutes have been accepted, however, subject to the amendments made by Anil Khanna (treasurer) , Virendra Nanavati (senior vice-president) and RK Anand (vice-president),” the IOA release said. 

Ramachandran’s term ends in February and he will turn 70 next year, the cut-off age for standing in elections to the sports bodies in India as stipulated by the Lodha Committee. But then the Lodha recommendations are mostly confined to paper as sports bodies across the nation still do not abide by them.

For the record, the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) was de-recognised by the Sports Ministry for not complying with its directives and those given by the International Boxing Association (AIBA) in 2012. The IABF was already debarred by the AIBA. 

The IABF was temporarily suspended by the Sports Ministry in 2012. The ministry had ordered the IABF to hold fresh elections and make its constitution compliant with the National Sports Code. 

The Ministry further added that in respect of Olympic sports, recognition to any National Sports Federation depends on the existing legal status of the organisation as well as the status of its recognition by the International Federation, the Asian Federation and the International Olympic Association (IOA). 

The Executive Council also decided to grant National Sports Federations and State Olympic Associations Rs seven lakh each per year for sports promotion. “If sponsorship increases, this will be increased to Rs nine lakh per year,” the IOA statement added.