Kalmadi backs off, Chautala defiant

​New Delhi: Suresh Kalmadi chose to back off but Abhay Singh Chautala remained defiant even as the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Wednesday invited the Sports Ministry's wrath and widespread outrage for its inexplicable decision to make the scam-tainted duo its Life Presidents.

Kalmadi and Chautala were elevated to the position at the IOA's Annual General Meeting in Chennai on Tuesday, stunning the Indian sporting landscape and leaving the Sports Ministry fuming. As the storm gained in intensity on Wednesday, Kalmadi chose to step aside even as Chautala remained adamant.

"I thank the Indian Olympic Association for conferring the honour of Life President on me. However, I do not feel that it would be appropriate for me to accept this honour at this time," Kalmadi said in a letter addressed to IOA President N Ramachandran.

"I am confident that my name will be cleared and I will defer acceptance of the honour till such time," he added. The ministry, on its part, issued a showcause notice to the IOA and also threatened to sever ties with the body if it failed to reverse its decision.

"This move is against the constitution of IOA and is not acceptable to the Sports Ministry. I am disappointed by the decision because both are facing cases of corruption.

We want transparency in sports. Till the time, these two don't resign or are sacked, we will not deal with the IOA," Sports Minister Vijay Goel told reporters here.

Earlier, the IOA top brass went incommunicado for some time before Associate vice-President Narinder Batra, who is now the President of International Hockey Federation, criticised the move and called for the duo to step aside.