IOC seeks full report on Kalmadi’s status

International Olympic Committee (IOC) sought full report on the status of Suresh Kalmadi from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Saturday.

New Delhi: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has written a letter to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), seeking a report on sacked Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi's "current and exact situation before the courts of justice".

In a letter addressed to the acting IOA president Vijay Kumar Malhotra, the IOC has threatened to refer the case to its Ethics Commission at any moment, should the action taken by the National Olympic Committee (NOC) does not have a satisfactory implication. "It is our understanding that, to date, your NOC has not taken any action or measure with respect to Mr Kalmadi. We now ask you to send us a full and official report from your NOC about the current and exact situation of Mr Kalmadi before the courts of justice," the IOC letter stated. "Depending on that situation, we assume that the competent organ(s) of your NOC would take the appropriate actions and decisions. It is indeed the primary responsibility of your NOC, as an organisation belonging to the Olympic Movement, to ensure full respect of the principles and rules of the IOC Code of Ethics and to preserve the reputation of the Olympic Movement in your country. "The IOC is closely following the position and course of action taken by your NOC and, should this not be satisfactory, may reserve its right to bring the case to the IOC Ethics Commission at any moment," the letter added. Kalmadi, who was granted bail by the Delhi High Court on January 19, has decided to step aside as the IOA president though he has not officially resigned from the post yet. Kalmadi had sent a letter to Malhotra earlier this month asking him to continue discharging his duty as the acting president of the IOA and that he would not represent the body for some time. The former CWG OC chief had nominated the senior IOA vice president Malhotra as the acting president before being arrested for alleged corruption in the conduct of the Commonwealth Games in 2010. IOC Director, NOC Relation, Pere Miro had written a letter to the IOA on January 10 seeking information regarding Suresh Kalmadi's involvement in the organisational matters of the IOA. Next day, Malhotra responded to the IOC with a letter written by Kalmadi himself stating that he will not be taking part in the IOA activities for a long period nor he will be represnting the IOA. Malhotra had reiterated that he was authorised to run IOA in Kalmadi's absence. PTI