IOC to lift ban on IOA: sports minister

Youth Affairs and Sports Minister, Jitender Singh during a news conference on Thursday informed that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had decided to lift the ban from Indian Olympic association (IOA). The IOC had banned India after refusing to recognize the results of IOA elections held on December 5 due to government interference, which led to a tainted official being named its new secretary general. The IOA and sports ministry blamed each other for failing to arrive at a consensus over the controversial code, which would restrict age and term limits for sports administrators. A Delhi court last year directed the IOA to hold the elections adhering to a government sports code, while the IOC wanted the body to abide by the Olympic charter. India has assured the IOC of the Olympic movement's autonomy in the country as the first step towards mending relations. The IOC's comments came at the end of a meeting with India's sports minister, national federations and suspended Indian Olympic Association (IOA) members in Lausanne.