IOA on the verge of being suspended

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) is on the verge of being suspended by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The official confirmation is expected on Dec 4 or 5 during the IOC's executive board meeting in Lausanne.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) is on the verge of being suspended by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The official confirmation is expected on Dec 4 or 5 during the IOC's executive board meeting in Lausanne.

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To avert the scenario, IOA acting president, VK Malhotra, had sent a letter to the IOC on November 29, explaining that the national Olympic committee had not violated the Olympic Charter.

"We hope the IOC will get convinced and avoid taking the drastic step," said Malhotra on Saturday. In the event of the IOA being suspended, it will not be able to take part in any multi-discipline event and no such event will be awarded to the country.

Inevitable?
A senior IOA official said that Malhotra's letter might not carry much weight as the IOC director-general, Christope de Kepper, was scathing in his missive to the IOA on Nov 28.

De Kepper had said in his letter that, "The IOA has failed to explain its position on the government guidelines and its stand on the Olympic Charter…a proposal for the suspension of the IOA will be presented to the executive board meeting," the IOC official had stated.