Doping: IOC issues final warning to India

While the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the sports ministry are busy dealing with the dope menace that has rocked the country, a larger issue stares them right in the face.

Sources within the Olympic association have told DNA that the International Olympic Committee (IOC), in a strict and final warning to IOA, has said it will impose sanctions on India the day the proposed sports bill brought into effect. Sports minister Ajay Maken is planning to table the bill during the monsoon session of the parliament that begins on August 1.

The IOC discussed the matter during its congress in Durban, which ended on Saturday and its director of national Olympic committee relations, Pere Miro, said they are ‘closely monitoring the issue and that no sanctions have been taken yet.’

The world governing body recently said in a statement that the “Indian government is failing to respect the jurisdiction and autonomy of the NOC (in this case, Indian Olympic Association). If the government does go ahead and pass the bill then stringent action will be taken, which may unfortunately impact India’s participation in the international events, including the Olympic Games.”

IOA general secretary Randhir Singh, who is India’s representative in the IOC, was to attend the congress but could not go due to illness. An IOA official confirmed that the IOC has sent an official communication to the IOA, briefing them up with their position.

Acting IOA president VK Malhotra reiterated that the sports ministry is committing a big mistake by planning to introduce this bill. “We have said it time and again that this move by the ministry will not serve the purpose. It is up to them (whether to introduce the bill or not),” Malhotra said.

The ministry, though, is in no mood to relent. “The recent turn of events (doping scandal) has shown that it is necessary the way sports in India are ran. We are just trying to bring in transparency and ensure that more sportspersons are involved in governing the sport. It is for the betterment of sports and not against it,” said Injeti Srinivas, joint secretary in the sports ministry.