IOA to set up Ethics and Arbitration panels

A day after Indian Olympic Association secretary-general Randhir Singh warned of serious repercussions on disbanding of some important committees, the apex sports body said it will soon set up the Ethics Committee and Arbitration Commission.

The IOA, at its General Body Meeting on December 15, had disbanded the Ethics Committee and Arbitration Commission, but apparently after Randhir Singh's sharp criticism, it said these committees will be formed again as per the unanimous decision of the AGM.

"No member was against Ethics or Arbitration Commission. All the GBM wanted was that it should be taken into confidence while taking such important decision," IOA vice-president Tarlochan Singh said.

Randhir had on Monday criticised the disbanding of the Arbitration Commission and Ethics Committee, saying it may attract the International Olympic Committee's ire and bring a bad name to the country, already sullied by the Commonwealth Games corruption scandal.

Tarlochan said the AGM had authorised the acting IOA president Vijay Kumar Malhotra to form various committees and commissions as per the IOC Charter.

"There is no question of IOA defying or ignoring the IOC or its charter. The very fact the GBM (AGM) unanimously vested all powers with Prof Malhotra to take crucial decisions show that members were keen to set the house in order," Tarlochan said.

"IOA is fully aware of its responsibilities. The president is aware of the seriousness of this issue and will constitute these committees at the earliest," he said.

Tarlochan said a "canard" has been being spread that the IOA does not want these commissions.

"We are all in favour of having such commissions but with the approval of General Body. IOA is a democratic institution and has to function under its constitution. All major decisions need the approval of the house," he said.

"What happened on December 15 GBM was that it did not ratify formation of some of the committees which were formed without its approval. There is nothing illegal or unconstitutional about it," he added.

Elaborating on the issue, Tarlochan said that GBM in fact did not approve certain new clauses which were inserted in the Constitution and requested the president to form a sub committee to review that matter.

He said after Ranchi National Games (in February), it was the first AGM and so the members wanted that all the decisions taken in between should be reviewed because they did not have the approval of the General Body.