Government suspends IOA for appointing Kalmadi, Chautala

TIL Desk Sports/ Cracking the whip on the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), the Sports Ministry today suspended the Olympic body till the time it reverses the decision to make the scam tainted duo of Suresh Kalmadi and Abhay Singh Chautala its life presidents.

The government took the firm decision after IOA failed to reply to its showcause notice with the deadline ending at 5 pm today. The IOA, in turn, had sought 15 days time from the Sports Ministry as its president N Ramachandran is out of the country.

“The government can’t approve of wrong things. The showcause notice issued to the IOA was a serious one but they didn’t respond and instead sought 15 days time. So the government has decided to suspend IOA till the time they withdraw the appointments,” Sports Minister Vijay Goel said at his residence here.

Following the suspension, the IOA will cease to enjoy the privileges and prerogatives bestowed on it by the government as the National Olympic Committee (NOC).