Chautala launches personal attack on shooter Bindra

Indian National Lok Dal leader Abhay Singh Chautala

Chandigarh, Sep 6 (IANS) Suspended Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Abhay Singh Chautala Friday launched a personal attack on Olympic champion rifle shooter Abhinav Bindra, who is spearheading a campaign to clean Indian sports.

“Abhinav’s father has been in jail for more than a month in a cheque bouncing case. If Bindra has a problem with tainted people, then he should first disown his father or leave his father’s house immediately,” Chautala said.

Bindra, the only Indian to win an individual Olympic gold, has been spearheading a campaign to clean the IOA of corrupt individuals.

Along with double Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar, Bindra has also submitted a petition to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) requesting to remove corruption from Indian sports and reinstate the country in the Olympic fold.

“As athletes we want more than anybody or anything else for India to be reinstated into the Olympic fold. We were delighted by the IOC recommendations and it was the first time that the Indian sport fraternity could opt for sweeping reforms. However, we are now deeply troubled by the outcomes after the last meeting,” the petition said.

“We strongly believe that India’s reintroduction into the Olympic movement must be focused around substantial ethical and governance related reforms,” the petition said.

The IOC had rejected the request of the suspended IOA to allow charge-sheeted officials to continue in and run for office.

The IOC executive board met Wednesday in Buenos Aires and decided that the ban on the IOA will continue if the apex body for sports in India does not change its constitution to keep out charge-sheeted individuals.

“The Executive Board heard a report that the IOA’s General Assembly had approved most of the amendments to the IOA’s constitution requested by the IOC, but one specific clause had not been adopted. This clause, which deals specifically with the eligibility of members, is key to the good governance of the NOC and needs to be fully accepted before the suspended IOA can proceed with the elections. An official notification of the IOC’s position will be sent to the IOA,” the IOC said in a statement.