IOC warns on Pakistan meddling claims

Lausanne, Feb 8 (AFP) The International Olympic Committee has said it had issued a warning over alleged political interference in Pakistan's national organisation. "The IOC will continue to support the Pakistan Olympic Association, whose office-bearers were duly and democratically elected last year," a spokesman for the Lausanne-based body told AFP in an emailed statement yesterday. "The IOC condemns the current attempts of a number of individuals and bodies to destabilise the POA as it threatens the interests of the Olympic Movement and its athletes in Pakistan." The POA and government agency the Pakistan Sports Board are at loggerheads because of alleged political meddling by the latter. The IOC has called talks from POA and Pakistan government officials at its Swiss headquarters on February 15. The goal, the spokesman said, is to "review the situation and find a reasonable solution that will fully respect the autonomy of the POA and the national sports organisations belonging to the Olympic Movement in Pakistan." The IOC suspended Pakistan's South Asian neighbour and rival India on December 4 last year because it ignored repeated warnings not to elect officials tainted by corruption allegations to its national Olympic organisation. AFP SSC SSC 02080935 NNNN