India stares at Olympic suspension as IOC session in India postponed

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Thursday postponed its annual session, which was to be held in Mumbai in May 2023, due to ‘ongoing internal disputes, governance shortcomings and ongoing court cases’ that have engulfed the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

The IOC has also issued an ultimatum to the IOA that failure to hold elections and resolve ‘all governance issues’ before the next Executive Board meeting in May would lead to the immediate suspension of the IOA, which could also lead to the Session being moved out of the



country.

In a letter to IOA secretary-general Rajeev Mehta, the Director of Olympic solidarity and National Olympic Committee Relations, James MacLeod, said the suspension of the IOA would mean, ‘the athletes of India would no longer be able to represent the country and compete under the country’s flag/name at the Olympic Games and other international sports events, as the case may be.’

He added that the IOA would ‘no longer be entitled to operate as an NOC… and would no longer receive any funding from the Olympic Movement until the suspension is lifted’.