Abhay Singh Chautala makes 'hasty retreat' after showing up at IOA meeting without invite

Tainted former IOA president Abhay Singh Chautala showed up at the emergent executive council meeting of the Indian Olympic Association without any invite here today before making a hasty retreat after some members objected to his presence.

Chautala, whose election as IOA president in December 2012 was declared null and void by the International Olympics Committee, barged his way into the meeting hall at the IOA Bhawan and sat for around 10 minutes.

Later one executive council member G S Mander objected and requested the chair to expel non-members. The meeting also passed a resolution that whatever is being said by any non member of the council will not be recorded.

IOA secretary-general Rajeev Mehta said Chautala was not invited for the meeting.

"We have not invited him for the meeting. He came on his own. He sat for around 10 minutes and after opposition from Mr Mander he left the meeting hall."

"We cannot throw him out but after the resolution was passed he left."

When Chautala was asked when he came for the meeting, he said, "I just came to meet the people and say hello to them." The election of Chautala and Lalit Bhanot as president and secretary-general in December 2012 led to the IOA being banned by the IOC till February 2014.

The IOA was forced to amend its constitution to bar charge-framed individuals who committed offences which could attract more than two years jail term from being elected as office bearers.