Kalmadi steps aside as IOA president

New Delhi, Jan 20 (IBNS) Former Commonwealth Games OC Chief Suresh Kalmadi, who was released on bail Friday, decided against resigning but stepped aside as the Indian Olympic Association (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.

Kalmadi and Verma were arrested last year for their alleged role in scam in the Timing, Scoring and Result system contract related to the 2010 Commonwealth Games.