IOC suspends India from Olympics; blame game begins
04 Dec 2012
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today suspended the Indian Olympic Association for holding elections under a controversial government sports code.
After months of warnings, the IOC executive board imposed the sanction when the IOA failed to comply with the world body's demands for holding independent elections.
The IOC's decision - taken in Lausanne, Switzerland – means that India can no longer take part in Olympics. The IOA has been directed by a Delhi court to hold elections adhering to the government's sports code, while the IOC wants the governing body to abide by the Olympic charter.
The IOA had to provide written guarantees to the IOC by Friday that the 5 December elections will be held without government interference, but failed to do so.
The decision was largely expected after the IOA decided to go ahead with the elections under the government's Sports Code, defying the IOC's diktat to hold the polls under the Olympic Charter.
The IOC had repeatedly told the IOA not follow the government's sports code for the elections on the ground that it would be a violation of the Olympic Charter and compromise autonomy. But the IOA went ahead saying they were bound by the Delhi High Court order.