Reacting to the criticism over his appointment as life presidency of the Indian Olympic Association, Abhay Singh Chautala on Thursday said he is ready to resign from the post if the International Olympic Committee (IOC) tells him to do so.
Chautala, who has been chargesheeted in a disproportionate assets case, and 2010 CWG corruption scandal tainted Suresh Kalmadi were made life presidents at the IOA’s Annual General Meeting in Chennai on December 27, stunning the Indian sporting fraternity and leaving the Sports Ministry fuming.
“I wish to thank the IOA for nominating me to the ceremonial position of lifetime president. I will be pleased to sacrifice my position in the best interest of Indian sports, sportspersons, good governance, transparency and cleanliness in India sports,” Chautala said in a statement and tweeted.
Wrote to IOA asking them to check with IOC if there is a direction to bar those with cases against them from holding office: Abhay Chautala pic.twitter.com/wOVQfYTKiX
— ANI (@ANI_news) December 29, 2016
However, Kalmadi, who was not present at the IOA’s Annual General Meeting in Chennai on Tuesday, wrote to IOA president N. Ramachandran about his unwillingness to accept the post. “I thank the Indian Olympic Association for conferring the honour of Life President on me. However, I do not feel that it would be appropriate for me to accept it at this time. I am confident that my name will be cleared and I will defer the acceptance of the honour till such time,” he wrote.
Earlier, Hitting out at Indian Olympic Association president N Ramachandran for honouring scam-tainted duo Suresh Kalmadi and Abhay Chautala as life presidents at its AGM two days ago, Union Sports Minister Vijay Goel on Thursday said the IOA chief was equally responsible for taking up the item which was not on agenda of the meeting.
“I feel that IOA president Ramachandran is equally guilty. He brought this item (into the meeting) despite it not being on the agenda and passed it,” Goel told reporters after inaugurating the 10th national vanvasi archery competition at the RCF ground in Chembur here.
“Indian Olympic Association’s job is to work with basic principles of ethics and good governance, but they have made two persons – Suresh Kalmadi and Abhay Chautala who are charge-sheeted – as Life Presidents,” said the minister.
Goel informed that the sports ministry has now issued a showcause notice to the IOA and given it time till tomorrow to respond.
