CSI welcomes IOC's move to suspend IOA

"Cleans Sports India and the entire sports fraternity welcomes the suspension of Indian Olympic Association (IOA) by IOC. We feel that our fight against the officials of IOA and its malfunctioning under the leadership of Suresh Kalmadi and V K Malhotra is vindicated," said a CSI release.

"In India there is a huge public outrage against these officials and all political leaders who are running our federations without restricting entries to sportsmen who have competed at the highest level," it added.

CSI also said that will co-operate with the IOC in starting reforms in the Indian Olympic Movement.

"IOC's move on suspension of IOA is a great opportunity to start reforms in the Indian Olympic Movement. We will cooperate with IOC in taking the reforms agenda forward to build permanent institutional mechanism, which is transparent and accountable with in IOA. And to improve the management of sports in India based on well accepted principles of good governance and ethical standards of the Olympic Movement."

CSI, however, said the IOC must start the reform process soon "so that the suspension of IOA is revoked at the earliest to protect the interests of our current sportspersons".

"However, we see a serious problem in moving forward with Mr V K Malhotra being the acting head of the suspended IOA. You are well aware of Mr Malhotra's continuous defiance of IOC's suggestions and directions since the last two years on various issues," the release stated. (MORE)