IOC says it will "closely monitor" IOA polls

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The International Olympic Committee will "closely monitor" the upcoming elections of the IOA in the wake of its Ethics Commission barring tainted Suresh Kalmadi and his two close aides from contesting in the polls.

The IOC's decision came just a couple of weeks before what is likely to be a closely contested fight for the Indian Olympic Association's top job between Abhay Singh Chautala and Randhir Singh.

In response to a note from Election Commission of the IOA, S Y Quraishi on Jagdish Tytler's representation, the world body said the world body will closely watch the November 25 election.

"The IOA has received the IOC Ethics Commission's opinion concerning the upcoming elections. It is expected that the IOA will take this opinion into consideration in the conduct of these elections. The IOC will closely monitor the management and the results of these elections," IOC Director General Christophe de Kepper wrote in a letter to Quraishi.

He thanked the former Chief Election Commissioner Quraishi for the "note concerning the IOA elections". The IOC Ethics Commission, on a representation by Tytler, who is also the head of Judo Federation of India, had recommended that Kalmadi, Lalit Bhanot and V K Verma, who were sent to jail and later released on bail for their alleged involvement in Commonwealth Games scam, be barred from contesting the IOA elections.

Kalmadi has already decided not to contest elections while there have been reports that Bhanot could run for the post of Secretary General.