New Delhi: Former Commonwealth Games chief Suresh Kalmadi still remains defiant and unwilling to let go of his sporting appointments. Abhay Singh Chautala's elevation to the presidency of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) may not have had the sanction of the International Olympic Committee(IOC) but it officially ended Kalmadi's 16-year reign as the undisputed boss of Indian sports.
But Kalmadi retained one association - staying on as head of the Asian Athletics Association but now with charges being framed in the Commonwealth Games (CWG) scam, voices asking for Kalmadi's removal from that position too are gaining voice.
Kalmadi's reign as Asia's top athletic boss will end in July. He has been in the job since 2000 and stayed on even while he was behind bars. Yet the IAAF, of which he is an executive board member, has taken no action against him. This despite an IOC ethics commission recommendation that he be kept out of the Olympic movement.
There are indications that Kalmadi will face a challenge at the next Asian Athletics elections later this year. He currently holds the job by virtue of being a nominee of the Indian Federation
Interestingly his key lieutenant Lalit Bhanot, too, has been chargesheeted. Bhanot is the secretary general of the IOA which has been suspended by the IOC. And the Athletics Federation of India, which they control has been derecognised by the Sports Ministry.
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