Chargesheeted ones to be barred from IOA polls: IOC

New Delhi: In a development of far reaching consequences, corruption-tainted persons will no longer be eligible to contest Indian Olympic Association elections under the revised draft constitution of the IOA sent by its parent body, International Olympic Committee.

In a 43-page draft revised Constitution, the world body laid down the provisions concerning the election process of the IOA, setting up of three key commissions, voting rights of the National Sports Federations and state Olympic bodies and the contentious age and tenure rules, among others.

Concerning the election of Executive Council members, the revised draft Constitution said, "To be eligible as an office-bearer or member of the Executive Council, a member must: be a citizen of India; be in full possession of his/her civil rights; not face charges framed against him/her by any court in India, in respect of a criminal or corruption offense which would be punishable with imprisonment if he/she was convicted; not have been convicted of any criminal or corruption offense."

It further said that when charges were framed against members of IOA General Council, Executive Council, Committees or Commissions, in a criminal or corruption case, he will be provisionally suspended from IOA and should be automatically expelled in case he was convicted.

"When charges are framed against an individual member of IOA General Council/Executive Council/Committees or Commissions by any court in India, in respect of a serious criminal or corruption offense which would be punishable with imprisonment if the person were convicted, he/she shall be provisionally suspended from IOA until a final ruling is made.

"When an individual member of IOA General Council/ Executive Council/Committees or Commissions has been convicted of a criminal or corruption offense, and ruling is final, he/she must be automatically expelled from IOA," the draft revised Constitution sent along with a letter by Jerome Poivey, IOC Head of Institutional Relations and Governance NOC Relations Department to Indian officials, said.

This provision will effectively mean that officials like Suresh Kalmadi, Lalit Bhanot and V K Verma who had been chargesheeted in connection with 2010 Commonwealth Games scam will not be able to contest IOA elections.