Ministry happy as IOA accepts age and tenure guidelines

New Delhi: The Sports Ministry on Sunday welcomed IOA`s decision to accept age and tenure guidelines as the national Olympic body agreed to amend its constitution to bring it in line with the Sports Code.

Following the Special General Body Meeting of the IOA, Sports Minister Jitendra Singh, Secretary (Sports) P K Deb met the IOC observers Francisco Elizaide and Jerome Poivey along with Haidar A Farman from Olympic Council of Asia (OCA). The IOC observers also attended GBM where IOA gave its nod to the all amendments proposed by the IOC in the revised draft constitution excpet one. "The Government of India welcomes the fact that the General Body of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has met today and agreed to amend its constitution to bring it in line with the Sports Code. It is also happy that Observers from the IOC attended the meeting. The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports understands that the age & tenure restrictions prescribed by the Sports Code have largely been adopted. Government of India welcomes this development and considers it a step in the right direction," a ministry release said. The government emphaised upon the IOC observers the need to ensure that the highest standard of ethics are maintained in the IOA. IOC wanted that persons who are charge-sheeted for criminal offences are barred from contesting elections but IOA in the GBM proposed to apply the rule to only convicted persons. "The Govt. Has stressed in unequivocal terms that persons facing criminal & corruption charges should not be allowed to contest IOA elections," added the release. The government of India also emphasised that Indian Sportspersons must be permitted to compete in International Events under the National Flag and if dispute between IOC & IOA cannot be resolved quickly, alternate enabling mechanisms may be considered for this purpose. The ministry also hoped that "this meeting will culminate in India getting back into the Olympic fold." PTI