Opposition Mounts Against India NOC President

(ATR) The president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) could face a motion of no confidence in as little as a month.

N. Ramachandran has been the IOA president since taking over in February 2014. After IOC president Thomas Bach visited India last week and called for unity among the IOA and India’s sporting federations and associations, Ramachandran is now facing potential removal from the office.

The calls for a new president began after Bach’s visit when Hockey India president Narinder Batra sent a letter to other federations questioning and criticizing the current IOA president.

A week later, two more national sporting federations (NSF) have sent letters directly to the IOA asking for a "special general assembly" to put forth a motion of no confidence against the current president.

The Badminton Association of India and Modern Pentathlon of India join Hockey India, Bowling Federation of India and the Jharkhand Olympic Association in calling for this vote of no confidence against Ramachandran.

A no confidence motion can only be passed if two-thirds of the IOA members are present and voting. The quorum needed would be three-fourths of the voting members of the IOA general body.

For the meeting to occur, the IOA must receive a written requisition signed by the presidents and secretaries of at least half of the members within IOA. Once received, either the current president or executive council must call the meeting within a month of receiving the letter.

If the president or council fails to act, those sending the requisitions may organize a meeting on their own accord to oust the president.

Written by Kevin Nutley

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