IOA fears possible IOC suspension : SOS to Rathore

New Delhi: The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has asked Sports Ministry to initiate a dialogue on proposed changes in the draft Sports Code, with a veiled warning that any unilateral action on the part of the government could invite another suspension of the country by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

IOA President Narinder Batra in an e-mail to the ministry said the government has not held any discussion with it or the National Sports Federations on the draft Sports Code and also cited "a level of mistrust" with regards to past discussions.

He said that any chages to the Sports Code also need the consent of the International Olympic Committee.

"The Ministry had given an affidavit in an ongoing case in Delhi High Court in early 2017 in relation to Draft New Sports Code that it will discuss the draft code with all the stakeholders. Nothing has been done till now in this regard and no discussion has even been initiated with the main stakeholder IOA ," Batra wrote in his letter.

"Indian NOC was de recognized by IOC in 2012 and recognized again in 2014, one of the reasons for this de recognition was interference by the government in the autonomy of NOC and NSFs," he said with  a swipe at the Sports Ministry for "telling NSFs and SOAs that IOA chief was part to drafting of the sportscode", when the panel was formed last year.