In a move that has created a bit of a storm, former Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Suresh Kalmadi has been named life president of the IOA along with former Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) chief Abhay Singh Chautala, following the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the national Olympic body on Tuesday.
However, the move was criticized by Sports Minister Vijay Goel: "We are shocked at the resolution passed by the IOA to make Suresh Kalmadi and Abhay Singh Chautala Life Presidents of IOA. This is totally unacceptable to us as both of them are facing serious corruption and criminal charges.
"In fact, IOA was suspended by the IOC when Chautala and Lalit Bhanot were elected office bearers of the IOA and the suspension was lifted only when the two were removed from the management."
Kalmadi served as IOA president from 1996 to 2011 and was jailed for 10 months for his involvement in the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games corruption scandal, though he was later released on bail.
Chautala served as the president of Indian Olympic Association from December 2012 to February 2014 when the IOA was suspended by the International Olympic Committee for fielding charge-sheeted candidates at the elections. His election as IOA chief was annulled by the IOC.
ESPN has reliably learnt that the nomination of neither Kalmadi nor Chautala as life presidents was on the agenda of the AGM. A member, it is understood, proposed their names for the post at the end of the meet which was unanimously approved and applauded by the rest of the house.
An IOA life president has few powers at his disposal. While the house can nominate up to three persons for the post, life presidents are not invited to attend executive committee meetings and do not have a casting vote at the AGMs or SGMs of the IOA.
The IOA, currently headed by N Ramachandran, draws its members largely from representatives of national sports federations and State Olympic Associations.