Citing “complexity of the issues”, the International Olympic Committee on Saturday extended the deadline given to the beleagured Indian Olympic Association for adopting an amended constitution.
The world body, which is currently reviewing the draft of the same, had set a July 15 deadline for the amendment of the IOA constitution so that elections are held by September 1 to pave the way for lifting the ban on India imposed on December 4 last year.
The IOC, it is learnt, is unhappy with the absence of some provisions in the code of ethics sent by the Indian Olympic Association, particularly concerning charge-sheeted officials holding office.
“I would like to inform you that given the complexity of the issues which have to be addressed (including good governance and ethics), the IOC needs more time to coordinate all comments internally,” IOC director general Christophe De Kepper said in a letter addressed to sports minister Jitendra Singh.
“The IOC will therefore not be able to meet the deadline initially established (July 15) for the first extraordinary general assembly of the suspended IOA to take place. Consequently, this initial deadline of July 15 will have to be slightly extended until the IOC can compile and send all necessary comments for the new IOA constitution.
“In the next few days, I will confirm a reasonable date/period that could be envisaged for this first extraordinary general assembly to take place,” he said in the letter which was also addressed to Pradeep K. Deb, secretary, sports ministry, Prof. Vijay Kumar Malhotra, acting president of the suspended IOA and Raja Randhir Singh, IOC member and secretary general of the suspended IOA.
Earlier, the IOC had asked the IOA to co-ordinate and submit all amendment proposals to the world body by no later than June 12, 2013, so the process of lifting the ban on India could begun at the earliest. De Kepper said the IOC had received the amendments and were studying the material.
An IOC representative was set to visit the country on July 11, but will now arrive at a later date.
Meanwhile, Clean Sports India welcomed the IOC’s decision.