Do not facilitate Kalmadi's visit to London: Sports ministry to IOA

In a bid to prevent Suresh Kalmadi from attending the London Olympics, the sports ministry today shot off a letter to IOA, requesting the sports body not to facilitate the tainted administrator's visit to UK on "ethical grounds".

In a bid to prevent Suresh Kalmadi from attending the London Olympics, the sports ministry on Friday shot off a letter to IOA, requesting the sports body not to facilitate the tainted administrator's visit to UK on "ethical grounds".

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In a letter to Randhir Singh, secretary general of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), the ministry argued that since Kalmadi is embroiled in corruption cases, IOA should not support Kalmadi in any way.

Early in the day, sports minister Ajay Maken had said that he will ensure that Kalmadi is not part of the Indian delegation, which is headed for London.

"Taking into consideration the serious charges levelled against Kalmadi in the matters relating to conduct of the Commonwealth Games 2010 and that the court is still seized of the matter, the Ministry requests that the IOA, on ethical grounds, should not facilitate or sponsor the visit of Kalmadi to London in any manner including air travel, lodging and boarding in London and giving tickets for witnessing the opening and closing ceremonies and sports competitions of the London Olympics, 2012," the letter written by Onkar Kedia, joint Secretary, said.

Further, the ministry appealed to IOA to take up the matter with international bodies such as International Olympic Committee (IOC).

"The IOA should also take up this issue with the IOC and the IAAF, particularly, in the light of the fact that visit of Kalmadi to London Olympics, before corruption charges against him are cleared by the court, would defy the 'Fundamental Principles of Olympism' as enshrined in the 'Olympic Charter'," the letter said.

Special CBI Judge Talwant Singh had earlier allowed Kalmadi's plea to visit London from July 26 to August 13, while ordering him to furnish a bond of Rs 10 lakh and a surety of the same amount.