VP Backs Kalmadi to Remain as IOA President

Trilochan Singh, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) Vice President has defended the body’s shamed chief Suresh Kalmadi, after he was relielved of his duties as chairman of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee last month.

Singh insisted that the under-fire administrator will remain in his post despite allegations of corruption for another year at least and criticised the Clean Sports India (CSI) Foundation for demanding Kalmadi’s resignation due to corruption allegations.

The IOA’s vice-president stated: “He (Kalmadi) is our President till 2012. And the IOA fully backs him. What is CSIs contribution to the sports? Why don’t they do some good work elsewhere?”

CSI is a newly-floated forum by former internationals like hockey Olympian Pargat Singh and former athletics stars Ashwini Nachappa and Vandana Rao. Kalmadi had yesterday said that the IOA had plans of including former sports persons in sports organisations.

The Annual General Body meeting of the IOA was held today, February 14, in Ranchi where the 34th National Games opened the same evening.