IOC DEADLINE FOR IOA: Drop tainted members, hold elections by December 15

The International Olympic Committee has asked the Indian Olympic Association to drop charge-sheeted members by October 31 to enable its return to the Olympic family. The international body also wants India to hold fresh elections by December 15. If the IOA doesn't, India could face more censure. NDTV has exclusive access to the IOC letter sent to senior IOA officials like acting president Vijay Kumar Malhotra and IOC member, Randhir Singh.
 The IOA has been in exile since last December when the IOC's executive board suspended India after Lalit Bhanot, who is facing corruption charges linked to the scandal-hit New Delhi Commonwealth Games in 2010, was elected secretary-general of the IOA. In its latest diktat to the IOA, the international body has clearly said it will consider India's return only after tainted members are dropped. (Read: Ethics cannot be compromised in sports administration, says Mahesh Bhupathi) Singh is also pushing for a Sports Bill that seeks a age and tenure limit on sports administrators.
The IOC has also spoken on similar lines at it wants age and tenure restrictions should apply to all members, and not just the president, secretary and the treasurer. (Read: It will be shame if we can't represent India, says Olympian shooter Joydeep Karmakar) The IOC versus IOA stand-off intensified on August 25 when the IOA general body rejected the IOC's demand. The IOA's general body decided to bar only those who had been convicted and not just charged. (Related read: VK Malhotra tells IOA to stand united against IOC) After a meeting of the IOC Executive Board in Buenos Aires on Wednesday, the international body issued a statement saying:
 "The Executive Board heard a report that the IOA's General Assembly had approved most of the amendments to the IOA's constitution requested by the IOC, but one specific (chargesheet) clause had not been adopted. This clause, which deals specifically with the eligibility of members, is key to the good governance of the NOC and needs to be fully accepted before the suspended IOA can proceed with the elections." The IOA is reluctant to accept the charge-sheet clause.