(ATR) A defiant Indian Olympic Association says it's done nothing wrong in holding elections one day after the IOC said any votes held would be "null and void".
In a statement released Thursday following the election of Abhay Singh Chautala as president, the IOA said it's discussed its suspension by the IOC but said the IOA's procedures showed why the elections are valid.
"The elections were conducted under the guidance of a three-member Election Commission comprising Retired Chief Justice Anil Dev Singh, Justice V K Bali and Justice J D Kappor and even the Union Government had sent its observer Joy Sebastian to oversee the election process," the IOA statement said.
"Even the members of the media were present at the venue in large numbers, and it only proves that the elections were held in free and fair manner and also with the approval of all the stakeholders party to the Indian Olympic Association in India."
However, the IOA says it's aware of its status and discussed a presentation that its leaders hope will have the IOA reinstated as a full member of the Olympic Movement.
"We will go to the IOC and explain the situation," outgoing president V.K. Malhotra said. "We will ask them to withdraw the suspension."
Archery Federation Loses Recognition
Archery is the latest sport to suffer fallout from Tuesday’s suspension of the Indian Olympic Association.
Less than 72 hours after the IOC Executive Board banned the IOA "due to its failure to comply with the Olympic Charter" and less than 24 hours after AIBA provisionally suspended the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation over "possible manipulation" in recent IABF elections, the Archery Association of India was derecognized by government.
"The president-elect of the Archery Association of India has served for more than three consecutive terms in the past and is also above the age of 70 years," Minister of Sports Jitendra Singh was quoted by The New York Times.
Both are violations of the Indian sports law for which the IOA was banned in the first place.
Singh also said he had suspended recognition of the IABF because of its "flawed" elections.
Longtime president Abhay Singh Chautala lost leadership of the IABF on Sept. 23, then was named chairman on the same day.
He later stood as the only candidate for IOA president in elections declared "null and void" by the IOC EB.
Written by Ed Hula III and Matthew Grayson.
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