If the IOA wishes to reclaim its place in international sport under the aegis of the IOC it must abandon the likes of the gentleman it recently elected as secretary-general
The message from the International Olympic Committee could not be more stark and unequivocal. If the Indian Olympic Association doesn’t reform its election process to keep out administrators charged with serious crimes like corruption, etc, Indian sportsmen won’t be able to participate in the Olympics under the Indian flag.
The choice before the IOA is clear: it must accept the IOC’s fiat, else its officials will remain excluded from its deliberations.
The issue is ethics and the standards of conduct expected of sports administrators. The IOA can’t take shelter behind the flimsy argument that it is bound only by Indian law, and that it won’t exclude officials charged with misappropriating funds meant for the Commonwealth Games. If the IOA wishes to reclaim its place in international sport under the IOC’s aegis it must abandon the likes of the gentleman it recently elected as secretary-general.
The crux of the issue is the continuing presence of Lalit Bhanot in a key role despite his association with former head honcho Suresh Kalmadi as the two prime accused in various shenanigans when India hosted the biggest Games in its history. The point to ponder is if a sports administrator is so crucial to the functioning of a federation that it must risk remaining without affiliation to the world body.
The principles of natural justice do point to a person being innocent until proven guilty. Why even the guilty can hide behind this facade is because they know the justice delivery system is so ponderous that it would take years to get a verdict in such matters. While politicians may argue against the exclusion of legislators charged with crimes being ineligible to stand for election is their opponents, if in power, can keep them out by foisting false cases, sports administrators are a different kettle of fish.
Sport is a meritocracy in which the best come through regardless of the discrimination and politicking that can go on in the junior selection process. Indian athletes are really amateurs who need all the support they can get to aspire for international standards. The manipulation of officials can immeasurably hamper them, which is why the best people are needed in sports administration.
Mr Bhanot’s election is a cause célebre in the sense that sports doesn’t need situations like this. It would be in the larger interest of Indian sport if this hitch is removed. Mr Bhanot should step aside and should be free to return if he is proved innocent at the end of the judicial process. It’s that simple, but those behind the imbroglio may be working to a different agenda. One only hopes the IOC’s ultimatum, with a ring of finality to it, brings them to their senses.
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