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With hopes of the ban on the Indian Olympic Association being lifted, Sports Minister Jitendera Singh, on Monday, cleared the air, stating that, if needed, he will meet International Olympic Committee officials in Lausanne.
The IOC suspended the IOA on December 5 over ‘government interference and violation of the Olympic Charter.’ However, the IOA went ahead with its elections, wherein Abhay Singh Chautala was elected president.
Singh assured that the IOA's ban would be lifted soon and his ministry will do everything needed to communicate with the IOC and sort out the issue.
"We are happy that IOC is willing to speak to the government and very soon we will have a dialogue with them. Besides that, we are also meeting all the stakeholders, which includes sportspersons, to come up with a solution," said Singh, on a sidelines of a function in New Delhi.
"If needed, I’m even willing to go to Lausanne to end the impasse.
“We will soon be engaging in dialogue process with IOC officials and we can put this issue to rest very soon,” he added.
Quizzed about the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) removing the contentious clause from its constitution and calling for re-election to three top posts next month, Singh explained that the ministry is yet to receive any official communication from the federation.
"I can only comment after getting an official communication on the matter. I have not yet received any communication from the AFI and once my ministry receives it, we will look into the matter," he said.
The AFI took the decision to delete Clause XIV(b)(1) of its constitution, which required candidates for the posts of president and secretary to be an existing member of the executive committee.
AFI had conducted its polls last March, but the ministry refused to recognize the election of its president and secretary.
The ministry directed the AFI to amend its constitution and hold re-elections within two months or by February 28 at the latest for the posts of president, secretary and treasurer, or face de-recognition.