India's fate rests on IOA polls

New Delhi: The International Olympic Committee welcomed the IOA's move to bar charge-framed officials from contesting elections in its amended constitution, but urged the Indian body to conduct its election as soon as possible for a quick return to the Olympic fold.

At an executive board meeting led by president Thomas Bach in Lausanne, the IOC said it would lift the suspension once new elections were held.

“The executive board welcomed these latest positive developments, which pave the way for the IOC to approve the new NOC constitution and for the NOC to hold its elections as soon as possible,“ the IOC said in a statement.

The Indian Olympic Association, which amended its constitution on Sunday in order to meet IOC's standards, has set February 9 as the date to hold fresh elections and IOC said in case the Indian body failed to do so, the country's athletes would have to compete under the Olympic flag in the Winter Games in Sochi scheduled from February 7 to 23.

“Should the NOC not be able to complete the remaining steps of the agreed roadmap by the start of the Sochi Games in February, the EB decided that any Indian athlete that qualifies to compete at Sochi 2014 would be allowed to compete as an independent Olympic participant under the Olympic flag,“ the IOC stated. “The executive board also made it clear that, in this eventuality, no Indian flags or sym bols would be used at the Games.“

However, the IOC also said that if the elections were moved up to take place before Sochi, the IOC could act quickly to allow India's three qualified athletes to compete under their national flag.

The Indian body was suspended last December for government interference in its functioning and for allowing tainted persons to contest elections including the likes of secretary-general Lalit Bhanot, who spent 10 months in jail on corruption charges related to the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

Meanwhile, India's first individual Olympic goldmedallist, shooter Abhinav Bindra, welcomed the latest developments. “Happy to see that India's return to the Olympics is close. Hope everything is implemented in the right spirit and before Sochi,“ he tweeted.

The Sports Ministry on Wednesday welcomed the IOC's decision.

The minister said the IOC's decision would enable Indian athletes to participate in the Olympics, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games under the national flag. “...The pride and prestige associated with playing for the country under its national flag motivates and lifts the performance of sportspersons,“ Singh said. Light at the end of the tunnel