STATE TIMES NEWS
NEW DELHI: The Sports Ministry today lifted the suspension on the Indian Olympic Association with immediate effect after it removed the corruption-tainted duo of Suresh Kalmadi and Abhay Singh Chautala as life presidents following widespread outrage.
The ministry said that it was revoking the suspension of deemed recognition of IOA handed down on December 30 last following its admission of “faux pas” while making Kalmadi and Chautala as life presidents. “Government has decided to revoke the suspension of deemed recognition of IOA with immediate effect in the light of the corrective action taken by them in reversing its earlier decision making Shri Abhay Singh Chautala and Shri Suresh Kalmadi, Life Presidents of IOA,” the ministry said in a statement.
“In the light of the above developments and keeping in view the larger interest of promotion and development of sports in the country, the Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has revoked the suspension of deemed recognition of IOA, imposed on 30.12.2016, with immediate effect,” it added.
The ministry, however, asked the IOA to uphold the highest standards of probity and ethics in future also.
“Since IOA has admitted the faux pas committed and regretted the inconvenience and embarrassment caused to all concerned, it is expected of IOA that it will uphold the highest standard of probity and ethics in its functioning in future,” the ministry said. IOA President N Ramachandran welcomed the ministry’s decision. “If the ministry revokes the suspension, it is good news for IOA. As far as I am concerned, if the government revokes the suspension, I am thankful to the ministry,” Ramachandran said.
