New Delhi, Sept 5: India's exile in the Olympic games continues to haunt the athletes as the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has rejected on Wednesday, a particular clause in the chargesheet, on tainted officials, handed over by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The IOC had banned IOA for electing tainted officials in the December elections, who were holding office. Lalit Bhanot, who had spent 11 months in prison on corruption charges, was elected as secretary general.

The IOC has maintained a tough stand and said that unless IOA accepts all the demands by the IOC, it wont be allowed to hold any elections. "The clause in the chargesheet will do good to the sporting body and will be a key in proper governance," an IOC official said. According to reports IOC will officially notify the IOA later on Thursday.

The ban imposed on the IOA bars any Indian athlete from competing in any sporting event under the national flag. The ban also means that there will be no funding from the IOC to the national body, nor can any official from the national body attend any meetings. However they can participate individually under the IOC flag.

IOA rejects clause on tainted officials

Many athletes like wrestler Sushil Kumar, shooter Abhinav Bindra, tennis player Mahesh Bhupathi and others have taken up the cause and have file a petition against corrupt officials in the IOA. Bindra has been vocal about the issue and even blamed the IOA saying that 'it had failed the country.'The Sports Ministry too has backed the athletes and wants all tainted and corrupt officials thrown out of the IOA.

The petition is to be sent to Jacques Rogge, President of IOC , who will then review the petition.

OneIndia News