India vote goes ahead despite ban

NEW DELHI - Agence France-Presse

Lalit Bhanot is facing corruption charges involving the 2010 Games. AFP photo

India’s Olympic Association shrugged off its suspension from the IOC by pressing ahead yesterday with a vote to install the organiser of the scandal-plagued 2010 Commonwealth Games as its new head.

A day after the International Olympic Committee ordered the scrapping of yesterday’s internal elections in India, the national association insisted it had no option but to hold the polls in which the outcome is a formality. Lalit Bhanot was set to be elected unopposed as secretary-general even though he is currently on bail, facing corruption charges in connection with his organization of the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

Newspapers lined up to condemn the IOA for “disgracing India” in its clash with the world governing body which means Indian athletes will not be able to compete in the Olympics under the national flag.

The IOC announced the suspension on Dec. 4, saying the Indian federation had “failed to comply to the Olympic charter.”