‘Very disappointed’: IOC backs call for clean IOA elections after Usha flags irregularities in SOM polls; warns of damage to India’s Olympic reputation

NEW DELHI: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has waded into the raging Indian Olympic Association (IOA) election controversy, expressing strong displeasure over recurring controversies surrounding its election process and warning that the development is damaging the reputation of the Olympic movement in India.In a strongly worded communication to IOA president PT Usha regarding its complaints, the world body called for the elections to be held in strict accordance with the Olympic Charter and the IOA Constitution, “in a free and fair manner and without any external interference”.The IOC’s letter to Ush, exclusively owned by TOI, comes in the wake of the IOA president’s November 9 communication to IOC president Kirsty Coventry, in which she sought an independent probe into alleged irregularities in the disputed Exceptional Merit (SOM) election. The latest communication, signed by James Macleod, Director of Relations with the NOC, Olympic Solidarity and Olympism365, also named IOC member Nita Ambani and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).Macleod opened with an unequivocal expression of displeasure, writing: “In response to the complaints and media reports brought to our attention over the past few days, we would like to express the IOC’s position as follows.The IOC then made its disappointment explicit, stating: “The IOC is very disappointed to note that once again problems and disputes seem to have re-emerged throughout the IOA election process and the implementation of the rules governing the IOA elections, despite all the efforts made over the last few years to establish a strong governance framework for the IOA in line with the Core Olympic Principles of the Olympic Charter.”In perhaps its most emphatic statement yet, the IOC warned that the dispute had ramifications beyond the IOA’s internal power struggle. “This extremely regrettable situation is once again adversely affecting the operation and reputation of the Olympic movement in India,” the letter said.The IOC’s intervention takes on significance against the backdrop of Usha’s detailed complaint to Coventry. In her three-page communication, the IOA president flagged alleged campaigning by incumbent officials, WhatsApp messages asking for votes for a particular panel, messages seeking confirmation of voter turnout and references to the sports ministry during elections involving secret ballots.It also questioned the procedure with the four submissions submitted to Election Officer Sanjay K. Srivastava and sought an independent assessment of whether government or outside influence was applied.Usha argued that her complaint was not an attempt to challenge the result just because she lost, but was about the conduct and oversight of the election process and the need to protect the autonomy of the IOA.The IOC has now directly addressed the responsibility of those conducting the elections. “We urge the IOA and the election officer directly responsible for the IOA election process to ensure that the IOA elections can be held in full compliance with the Olympic Charter, the IOA Constitution and all applicable rules, in a free and fair manner and without any outside interference,” Macleod wrote.The letter further emphasized, “We sincerely count on everyone’s cooperation to ensure strict compliance with the above to avoid unnecessary complications and further escalation.” She also asked for a copy to be sent to the relevant state authorities.The controversy erupted after Usha finished fifth with 40 votes in the six-member competition for the four female SOM positions on November 9. Anju Bobby George topped the list with 53 votes, followed by Rani Rampal (50), Dola Banerjee (45) and Saina Nehwal (43).Although the IOC has not ruled on Usha’s specific allegations or named anyone responsible for the reported violations, his unequivocal warning puts the IOA’s election administration under international scrutiny.With the executive council elections scheduled for December 5, the message is unmistakable: the process must be credible, it must follow the rules and it must remain free of outside interference.

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