India back in Olympic fold after 14 months

India returned to the Olympic fold after a 14-month absence with the International Olympic Committee’s executive board lifting the ban in Sochi on Tuesday.

The move to reinstate the Indian Olympic Association comes after the latter barred charge-framed officials from its February 9 election, , in which World Squash Federation chief N. Ramachandran was unanimously elected president. IOC observers told the board the election was held under the IOA’s new constitution, which complies with all IOC requirements, including the clause that no one convicted or charge-framed can run for a position within the organisation.
Welcoming the reinstatement, sports minister Jitendra Singh said India’s 14-month exile from the Olympic movement had come as a blessing in disguise as it forced India to “clean up” the system.
This is the first time a national Olympic committee’s suspension was lifted during an Olympic Games, and it will have immediate impact. India’s three athletes entered the Sochi Games under the Olympic flag in the February 7 opening ceremony. Now they can walk behind the Indian tricolour at the February 23 closing ceremony.
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