IOC wants status report on Kalmadi

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has reportedly sought a status report on scam tainted Suresh Kalmadi from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

In a letter written to the chairman of IOA, the IOC said: "It is our understanding that, to date, your NOC has not taken any action or measure with respect to Mr Kalmadi. We now ask you to send us a full and official report from your NOC about the current and exact situation of Mr Kalmadi before the courts of justice."

"Depending on that situation, we assume that the competent organ(s) of your NOC would take the appropriate actions and decisions. It is indeed the primary responsibility of your NOC, as an organisation belonging to the Olympic Movement, to ensure full respect of the principles and rules of the IOC Code of Ethics and to preserve the reputation of the Olympic Movement in your country."

"The IOC is closely following the position and course of action taken by your NOC and, should this not be satisfactory, may reserve its right to bring the case to the IOC Ethics Commission at any moment," read the letter.

Kalmadi, who was released on bail Friday, decided against resigning but stepped aside as the IOA president and asked acting president Vijay Kumar Malhotra to carry on his prolonged absence.

In a letter to Malhotra, Kalmadi said: "I will not be able to represent the IOA. I will not be taking part in IOA activities for a long time."

Malhotra, who took over last year, has also informed the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that Kalmadi will not be involved in IOA activities for the moment.

IOA vice-president Tarlochan Singh said Kalmadi took the decision because he has a long legal battle to fight and his parliamentary commitments also meant that he could not devote time to IOA.

"He is not in a position to devote time for IOA at the moment. He also has to attend to his electorate in Pune since he has been away for close to nine months now," Tarlochan said.

"Kalmadi realises that it will be a prolonged absence and has therefore asked Malhotra to continue as the acting president," he added.

Kalmadi and V.K.Verma, then director general of Delhi Commonwealth Games organising committee, were granted bail by the Delhi High Court Thursday after nine months in jail.

In April last year, Kalmadi was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on charges of awarding illegal contracts to a Swiss firm for Timing-Scoring-Result (TSR) system for the 2010 Commonwealth Games causing a loss of Rs 95 crore to the exchequer.