IOC clause should be applicable to all member countries: VK Malhotra

New Delhi: Indian Olympic Association regretted the IOC’s decision not to revoke its suspension on it but promised to make all out efforts to see country’s return to the Olympic movement at the earliest. Acting-president of IOA (recognized by the IOC) Vijay Kumar Malhotra said, “The continuance of the ban is definitely detrimental to Indian sports and India’s prestige also. I am quite unhappy that India is out of the Olympic movement at the moment. He however pleaded to stake holders in the IOA to stand united and find out a way by which the ban could be lifted. [caption id=“attachment_1088123” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  He however pleaded to stake holders in the IOA to stand united and find out a way by which the ban could be lifted. Reuters[/caption] Malhotra said “We have to follow the IOC charter. The only thing is they can have more clarifications here and there. Definitely, I am also of the opinion that people facing criminal and corruption charges shouldn’t contest the election. But we need see to what stage it can be made applicable. “The government has also taken its view on it and gone to the Supreme Court. So we will like to study all these things and then convey our acceptance to the IOC clause,” Malhotra said he was not in a position to tell what transpired in the IOA’s Special General Meeting held here on August 25 as he did not attend it. “I didn’t attend the meeting because I as a president didn’t call it. So, what transpired there I didn’t have first-hand knowledge. But now I will have to discuss it with all those people. “I have talked to IOA members (after the meeting) and they said that IOC members were convinced and the ban will be lifted. It appeared that they were convinced that India has done whatever they were needed to do. But IOC should have clearly told at the time when the clause was being discussed that if you don’t agree to this clause, we will not lift the ban,” he said. He urged that “the IOC (charge sheet) clause should be applicable to all member countries. If it is for all countries, naturally, we will have to follow it.