NEW DELHI: Youth affairs and sports minister Vijay Goel expressed satisfaction over the decision by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) of cancelling the appointment of Suresh Kalmadi and Abhay Singh Chautala as lifetime presidents.

In a statement, he said: “I am happy that IOA has reversed its decision which augurs well for governance of sports in the country."

“By reversing their earlier decision, which appears to have been taken in a hurried manner, IOA has complied with its own constitutional obligation and also with conditionality approved by International Olympic Committee (IOC),” he added.

“In the renewed circumstances, we look forward to partnering with IOA in making India a sporting nation,” he added.

IOA President N Ramachandran, in reply to a show cause notice from the ministry, has clarified that the decision to appoint Kalmadi and Chautala does not stand owing to technicalities.

The appointment of Kalmadi and Chautala has been declared "null and void" in order to not just get the recognition from ministry but also to avoid any possible action from the IOC.

Kalmadi and Chautala were elevated to the honorary position at the IOA's Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Chennai on 27 December 2016, but the Olympic body was forced to reverse its decision after it was opposed by a majority of IOA members.

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