New Delhi: International Olympic Committee has threatened to take "protective measures" against India if the Sports Ministry does not put on hold its regulation that seeks to limit the tenures of sports bosses in the country till its meeting with the IOC.
In a letter to Sports Minister MS Gill, IOC National Olympic Committee Relations Director Pere Miro welcomed the government's proposal for a dialogue but said the regulation should not be implemented till then.
"In order to further discuss these issues openly and resolve this matter amicably, we would be very pleased to accept your proposal and to organise a meeting as soon as possible in Lausanne," Miro wrote, saying he was instructed by IOC President Jacques Rogge to write on his behalf.
"Nevertheless, until this dialogue is established, it is our understanding that the guidelines which you have issued will not be imposed in a mandatory manner on the organisations of the Olympic Movement in India.
"Otherwise, we would unfortunately be obliged to consider the protective measures provided for in the Olympic Charter," the IOC official warned.
The Sports Ministry recently issued a guideline which suggests National Sports Federation (NSF) presidents cannot continue for more than 12 years, with or without break, while secretaries and treasurers can work eight years at a stretch but would have to take a four-year break before seeking a re-election.
Besides, it advocated all sports administrators should retire at 70.
The guidelines hurt Indian Olympic Association President Suresh Kalmadi and NSF chiefs including VK Malhotra (archery), Jagdish Tytler (Judo) and SS Dhindsa (Cycling) who have been at the helm for more than a decade.
Pointing out that they are governed by Olympic Charter and that government cannot infringe on their autonomy, IOA already has produced letter of supports from IOC and the Olympic Council of Asia.
The Sports Ministry replied to that by sending a detailed response to IOC and offering to send an official to Lausanne, Switzerland to discuss the issue.
Miro said the issue was not whether limiting terms of the sports administrators was appropriate or not but no external body could determine it, the IOC official said.
"...Our point is that such measures (which relate to the internal operations of those organisations) must not be decided or imposed by law or an external body's decision but must be decided freely and democratically by the competent organs of those organisations, on a case-by-case basis," Miro said.
"This is our understanding of what autonomy of the Olympic and sports organisations means and it is one of the basic principles that govern the Olympic Movement which everyone, including the public authorities in each country, must respect if those organisations wish to continue belonging to the Olympic Movement," he asserted.
While issuing the guidelines, Sports Ministry had pointed out that IOC itself follows a tenure limitation for its presidents and executive committee members who have to retire at 70.
Miro, however, made it clear that the restrictions were for IOC only and the National Olympic Committees like IOA are free to decide whether they want to follow it or not.
"...although the ICC has adopted its own internal rules in relation to these matters (which are applicable to the IOC only), the Olympic Charter leaves it up to each NOC...to freely and democratically decide whether they wish to apply similar measures," he said.
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