IOA politics: Threat of athletes taking over raised to spook administrators?

The murky situation around the suspended Indian Olympic Association just keeps getting murkier. Last week PTI quoted a letter from an anonymous official saying the IOC was considering suspending the Indian Olympic Association if the latter did not amend its constitution. In that case, the report stated, an ad-hoc body would be constituted to run Indian sport that would include Bindra, Malhotra, Nachappa and Mehra among its members. However, Bindra, Malhotra, Nachappa and Mehra have not only denied those reports, but have claimed it was actually an attempt to scare India’s sports bosses into falling in line. “The letter now written is testament to the fact that they [India’s sports administrators] view anyone who would like a clean and ethical system as the enemy. We do hope that individuals can think beyond themselves and do what is in the best interest of the nation and its athletes.” [caption id=“attachment_1250427” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] The Indian Olympic Association was suspended 11 months ago by the IOC. AFP[/caption] In a joint statement, the group made it clear no one from the IOC contacted them over the possibility of forming such a body. “No one has ever approached me to be a part of any adhoc body,” Rahul Mehra said. “In any case, I am sure the corrupt vested interest will not dig its own grave by having someone like me as a member of any adhoc Committee.” They also stated they were acting only in the interest of Indian sports and have no desire to take over the Indian Olympic Association. “Our only goal has been to help not only this generation but all upcoming athletes so that they can have the best possible platform to bring our nation laurels.” The anonymously sourced article was based on a letter sent out by Narinder Batra, the current head of Hockey India. “It’s only an opportunist statement made by Narinder Batra to achieve his ulterior motive by scaring the IOA members and ensuring some of his powerful colleagues get dumped in the process," Mehra said in the statement. “Batra’s ambition is at play as he sees a clear road ahead to take control of tainted and suspended IOA.” Batra and Mehra have had differences in the past as well, with Mehra citing Batra’s attitude as one of the reasons why he resigned from the committee that was drafting the proposed Sports Bill. Mehra, whose battles with sports bodies, including the BCCI, are well known, also has an application pending in the Delhi High Court that calls for the creation of an adhoc body with members such as Abhinav Bindra, Narayan Murthy and Anand Mahindra. The IOC suspended the IOA in December 2012 on the grounds that the IOA’s last election was null and void and called on the Indian body to amend its constitution. Since then a group of sports administrators led by Abhay Singh Chautala and Lalit Bhanot, who were elected president and general secretary in the vitiated election, have refused to amend the constitution , objecting in particular to accept a provision that would require officials to step down if charged with a crime. Such a provision would bar Chautala and Bhanot from contesting elections as both are facing charges, with Bhanot one of those arrested for the Commonwealth Games scam. Bhanot is currently out on bail.