Under pressure to quit, tainted Indian Olympic Association President Suresh Kalmadi today said that he will not seek re-nomination in the IOA’s upcoming elections and hinted at retiring from sports administration.
In a significant development, Kalmadi said that he will make way for a new generation of sports leaders after having served as IOA president for the last 16 years.
Kalmadi, who was arrested and released on bail in connection with the Commonwealth Games corruption scandal, said he will not seek re-nomination in the elections of the IOA scheduled for November 25.
“I have served Indian sports, for the last four terms as President of the IOA, to the best of my abilities and have now decided to make way for a new generation of sports leaders,” Kalmadi said.
“I would now like to focus on my constituency — Pune and on my family. I am thankful to all the Sports federations and Sports professionals for their support and confidence in my leadership. I am sure the Indian sports will achieve new heights and will soon emerge as a sports powerhouse,” he added.
Kalmadi’s decision to stay away from the elections comes in the midst of a raging war of words between the International Olympic Committee and the IOA on his status in the wake of the CWG scandal.
While the IOC has been putting pressure on the IOA to suspend Kalmadi from the post pending disposal of the case, the IOA had refused to act against him.