IOA to amend constitution before July 15

The International Olympic Committee issued the roadmap for India's return to the Olympic fold under which the Indian Olympic Association will have to amend its constitution before July 15 and elect new office bearers by September 1, both under the watchful eyes of the world body.

The IOC said in a letter to Sports Minister Jitendra Singh and acting IOA chief V K Malhotra that it would start the process of lifting the ban on India after the guidelines in the roadmap are implemented.

The IOA will have to decide on the date of Extraordinary General Body Meeting to amend its constitution and that of election of new office bearers within the time frame set by the IOC.

The roadmap was issued on the basis of "agreement" after discussions on May 15 in Lausanne between Indian officials and the IOC, which the world body described as "fruitful and productive".

"IOA shall hold an extraordinary meeting of its members (no later than 15 July 2013) in order in particular to review its constitution and ensure that all standards of good governance and ethics are effectively addressed and implemented in the new constitution," the letter written by IOC Director General, Christophe De Kepper, said.

"The proposals for amendments will come from membership of the suspended IOA and from the IOC. These amendment proposals (which will be submitted to this extraordinary meeting) will be closely coordinated between the IOC member in India, the IOC administration and a representative of the sports federation members of the suspended IOA.

"The whole process shall be completed as soon as possible and the extraordinary meeting of the IOA shall take place no later than 15 July 2013," said the letter which was also addressed to IOC member in India, Randhir Singh and, interestingly, to all the members of the suspended IOA.

The IOC made it clear that the IOA will "elect an independent election commission comprising three members who will be in charge of conducting the whole election process (before and during the Elective General Assembly)" under the supervision of the world body.

"(The IOA shall) decide upon the exact date on which the Elective General Assembly will be held to elect the new office bearers of the IOA based on the newly revised constitution and the Olympic Charter," the IOC letter said.

"IOA shall hold an Elective General Assembly (not later than 1 September 2013) to elect new office-bearers of the IOA. The election process will be conducted by the election commission in a free, fair and transparent manner based on the newly revised constitution of the IOA and the Olympic Charter, and will be placed under the supervision of IOC.

"The entire process will be closely monitored by the IOC with the support of the OCA, and once the steps 2 and 3 have been successfully completed, the IOC will be in a position to consider lifting the suspension of the IOA."

The IOC said that the government has agreed to respect the autonomy of the Olympic Movement in India and the new Sports Code will be drafted in consultation with the IOA, National Sports Federations and the world body.

"The IOC and the Government of India agreed that the autonomy of the Olympic Movement in India will be fully respected. At the same time, close cooperation and coordination between the Government authorities and the sports organisations shall be established for the benefit of the development of sport and the athletes in India, with mutual understanding and respect for the jurisdiction of each entity.

"To this effect, the drafting of new sports bill will be undertaken in close coordination with IOA and NSFs, and with consultation with IOC to ensure that it is fully compatible with the principles and rules of the Olympic Movement.

"We count on everyone's cooperation in respecting and implementing this roadmap in the best interest of sport and the athletes in India. We sincerely hope that with this process, a fruitful relationship and partnership will be established between the Government of India and the sports organisations good governance, and the IOA will now meet and apply all standards of good governance and ethics which are required to belong to the Olympic Movement."

Photograph: Reuters