CSI appeals to PM to ensure IOA poll is held under Sports Code

"Clean Sports India appeals to Prime Minister not to accede to the demand of IOA acting president V K Malhotra to withdraw the Sports Code. On the contrary CSI request the Prime Minister to bring back the Sports Bill to Cabinet," CSI national convenor B V P Rao said in a statement.

"CSI believes that V K Malhotra has personal interest in repealing Sports Code as the government is about to withdraw the recognition to Archery Association of India (AAI) because he himself violates the age and tenure rules of Sports Code. He is the president of AAI for 40 years ans is presently aged 81," he said.

Rao's call came close on the heels of International Olympic Committee's warning to India. The IOC had recently threatned Indian Olympic Association of a possible sanction if it's December 5 election is held as per the government's Sports Code.

"Mr. Malhotra is taking the advantage of IOC's threat to suspend IOA to get the Sports Code out of his way. CSI backs the new Sports Minister who is standing by the Sports Code like his two predecessors," Rao said.

"If one reads carefully the recent IOC letter, it is clear that IOA should have held a dialogue with the government on Sports Code and incorporate the provisions like age and tenure rules in to IOA constitution which are consistent with Olympic Charter as IOC members also retire at the age of 70 and it's executive members cannot hold more than two terms of office.

"What IOC want is that IOA should uphold it's autonomy, which does not mean to protect persons like Malhotra who is holding his fiefdom for 40 years," he added.

He further said that CSI has already requested the IOC to set up an ad-hoc committee with persons of integrity who can hold free and fair elections of IOA.