In this Aug. 16, 2012 photo, IndianLondon Olympic medal winners (from L) Vijay Kumar, MC Mary Kom, Gagan Narang, Saina Nehwal, Yogeshwar Dutt and Sushil Kumar pose for the media at the India Gate during a felicitation event in New Delhi, India. The IOC suspended India Tuesday. — AP LAUSANNE, Switzerland — The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has banned the Indian Olympic Association over elections that could result in a tainted official taking over as the only candidate for secretary-general, a source close to the IOC told Reuters Tuesday. The source said Kuwait, also under investigation over a sports law, had escaped a ban. The IOC's Executive Board, which is meeting in Lausanne, is expected to officially announce its decisions later Tuesday. “We had offered the IOA and IOC to sit and talk on these issues,” Jitendra Singh, the country's Sports Minister, told reporters. “We've already written to the IOC, but didn't get a reply. It's very unfortunate, more so for the sportspersons. That's all I'm concerned about.” The ban means an effective end to funding from the IOC to the national Olympic committee (IOA), no Indian officials attending Olympic meetings and Indian athletes banned from competing at the Olympics under their country's flag. Lalit Bhanot, who spent 11 months in custody last year following corruption charges that plagued the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi and who is out on bail, was confirmed for the post last week after the rival faction pulled out ahead of Wednesday's election. The International Olympic Committee has been angered by government interference in the elections and had warned the IOA in a letter of a possible suspension. “This is wrong and completely unilateral,” Abhay Singh Chautala, who is expected to be elected as IOA President Friday, told reporters. “We'd go to the International Olympic Committee again and explain them the actual situation and the details of the election. This ban was completely thrust on us. It's a unilateral decision.” The IOA has been directed by a Delhi court to hold the elections adhering to the government's sports code, while the International Olympic Committee wants the governing body to abide by the Olympic charter. The International Olympic Committee blamed non-cooperation by the Indian government and the IOA for the current situation. Acting IOA President V.K. Malhotra said his organisation was caught in the middle. Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympics organizers were, manwhile, told Tuesday they needed to push ahead with their preparations because time was an issue, the IOC said. Rio has not finalized its budget for the Olympics as well as the venues for several sports, including rugby, hockey and golf. Rio organizers said last month the Sao Januario Stadium, home of soccer club Vasco da Gama, had missed the Oct. 31 deadline and they would, therefore, revisit plans for the Joao Havelange Stadium to host the rugby sevens tournament instead. Brazil is also hosting the 2014 World Cup and organizers for that event have also been urged to speed up preparations by world soccer's governing body FIFA. — Agencies
