IOA senior vice-president Tarlochan Singh said, “Chautala also refused to accept the post for the similar reasons”. However, sources close to Chautala said that no decision has been taken.
Facing public outrage after he was appointed honorary life president by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), Suresh Kalmadi, accused in CWG scam, has deferred the acceptance of the offer.
He wrote to the IOA president N Ramachandran on Wednesday that “time is not appropriate to take up the post”.
This has come hours after two of the former IOA presidents, Kalmadi and Abhay Singh Chautala, were “honoured” by entire 120 members in the Annual General Meeting in Chennai on Tuesday.
Though, Kalmadi has declined the post, there is lack of clarity over Chautala’s decision. The Haryana politician hit out at sports minister Vijay Goel for calling him tainted terming cases he is facing as “political and not criminal”.
In a letter addressed to IOA president, Kalmadi wrote, “I thank the IOA for conferring the honour of Life President on me. However, I do not feel that it would be appropriate for me to accept this honour at this time. I am confident that my name will be cleared and I will defer acceptance of the honour till such time.”
IOA senior vice-president Tarlochan Singh said, “Chautala also refused to accept the post for the similar reasons”. However, sources close to Chautala said that no decision has been taken.
International Hockey Federation president elect Narendra Batra, who is also associate vice-president of IOA, criticised the move.
“I might be quitting the IOA soon because I can’t be associated with something which does not make sense to me in terms of good governance. They should not accept this position till the time their names are cleared,” said Batra, who is also the president of Hockey India.
Maken calls for tough action
This has come after both the Congress and ruling BJP slammed IOA for honouring the tainted former presidents. Congress’ former sports minister Ajay Maken, who was instrumental in drafting Sports Code to clean up sports in India, termed the appointments as “sad and painful”. He even demanded that government should approach the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on the issue.
“I request the sports minister not only to convey his reservations but take strong actions to reverse the decision. All the National Sports Federations are funded by the Ministry, so the government should exercise its full powers to reverse the decision,” said Maken on Wednesday.
Goel, who had announced his displeasure at the appointments, said that Kalmadi and Chautala’s return is “totally unacceptable” as both of them are facing serious criminal and corruption charges.
Kalmadi served as IOA president from 1996 to 2011 and was jailed for 10 months for his involvement in the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games corruption scandal but later released on bail.
While, Chautala was president from December 2012 to February 2014 when the IOA was suspended by the parent International Olympic Committee for fielding charge-sheeted candidates at the elections.
His election as IOA chief was annulled by the IOC and it was only after IOA constitution was amended to ensure that charge-framed candidates are not allowed to contest elections, the IOC revoked the suspension on IOA in February 2014.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Kalmadi-Chautala")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}