IOA charts redressal plan for various federation disputes

IOA has set up a three-member committee, consisting of senior vice-president Virendra D. Nanavati, treasurer Anil Khanna and secretary-general Rajeev Mehta to address the disputes at the earliest.

IOA president N. Ramachandran is keen to resolve federation disputes at the earliest.

The Indian Olympic Association expressed concerns that the disputes in various federations had portrayed the governing body in bad light.

At the Annual General Meeting in Chennai on Tuesday, president N. Ramachandran and secretary-general Rajeev Mehtasaid said the IOA has set up a three-member committee, consisting of senior vice-president Virendra D. Nanavati, treasurer Anil Khanna and secretary-general Rajeev Mehta, to address the disputes at the earliest.

The house also decided to appoint former president Suresh Kalmadi and Abhay Singh Choutala as life-presidents of the IOA.

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The three-member committee met the four disputed federations and the decisions taken on the disputes have been approved by the house, revealed IOA president N. Ramachandran.

“We want to resolve these issues in the next three months. This will be a time-bound programme and we will solve it in three months time,” added Ramachandran.

Boxing:

Boxing Federation of India has sought affiliation with the IOA. However, the IABF are the recognised federation today by the IOA. We cannot have two federations representing the same sport. So the IOA will be writing to the IABF, providing them the claims by the BFI for recognition and asking them for their views. Thereafter, IOA will take a view on the matter, after the IABF has replied.

Basketball:

The matter is in court. We have had a word with K. Govindraj, who is the president as per court today. There are issues in basketball federation and we are going to go to court and ask for an early resolution. This matter has been pending for sometime and Govindraj has agreed to co-operate with IOA to help resolve this matter amicably as early as possible.

Gymnastics:

For Gymnastics Federation of India, it is simple. It is an internal issue between the president and the secretary-general. The secretary-general has to go back to his general council and the council has to approve him as the secretary-general. So IOA has nothing to do with it at this point of time.

Volleyball:

The arbitrator has informed the Volleyball federation president that the election should be held and IOA will assist them as and when the arbitrator requests us. We can help the arbitrator in ensuring the elections are held as early as possible.

The IOA has also asked other federations to solve any internal disputes as swiftly possible or consult the dispute committee of IOA and not rush to court. “Our greatest expenditure is fighting legal cases,” said Ramachandran.