CSI criticises IOA, sports ministry
Stressing on the need of enforcing good governance and ethics in the Indian Olympic Association constitution, Clean Sports India — a movement for corruption-free sports — on Sunday criticised the Indian body and the sports ministry, calling the latter the “biggest violator” of the Sports Code.
The International Olympic Committee had directed the IOA to amend its constitution before July 15 in its proposed roadmap for lifting the ban on India.
“We are extremely critical of the draft amendments (of the IOA Constitution) which were decided in a meeting chaired by sports secretary and attended by the suspended IOA officials. We are also unhappy with the way the sports secretary chose to hobnob with these officials,” said CSI convenor B.P. Rao in a symposium on ‘IOC roadmap for revocation of suspension of India’ here on Sunday.
Another speaker at the forum, Rahul Mehra, a lawyer and activist, also slammed sports secretary P.K. Deb for chairing the meeting to discuss the draft amendments on April 22, which was attended by Abhey Singh Chautala and other members.
“He (Deb) has no business to chair the meeting and that too one attended by people, not recognised by the IOC,” Mehra said, adding that “it was not the national federations but the sports ministry which was the violator of the Sports Code”. Mehra pointed out a few clauses of the amendments were against the Sports Code.
Meanwhile, CSI president Ashwini Nachappa said: “It’s time now that the stakeholders of the Indian sport should emphasise on ethics and good governance. We should not allow tainted officials to be a part of the Olympic movement in India and play illegal role in the process of India’s return to Olympic fold,” she said.
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