Politics · India · 54 mins ago
IOC urges fair conduct of India Olympic Association elections
The International Olympic Committee says disputes over India’s Olympic Association elections are damaging the movement’s reputation.
The dispute involves the Indian Olympic Association, whose president, P.T. Usha, has alleged that other candidates manipulated the vote for a Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit panel under outside pressure.
Usha was nominated by India’s Ice Hockey Federation and remains eligible to seek a second term as IOA president.
The election of the association’s leadership is scheduled for December 5.
The IOC says the process should follow the Olympic Charter and IOA rules, and be free and fair without outside interference.
The dispute matters as India is among seven countries seeking to host the 2036 Olympics.
The IOC has urged the IOA and its electoral officer to ensure the rules are followed as the election process continues.
The International Olympic Committee urged the Indian Olympic Association to conduct its elections fairly and without external interference.
The IOC said disputes over the election process were harming the reputation and operations of India’s Olympic movement.
The statement followed IOA President P.T. Usha’s allegation that manipulation by other candidates under external pressure led to her defeat in an election for a Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit panel.
Usha was nominated by the Ice Hockey Federation of India and remains eligible to contest the IOA presidency.
The IOA elections are scheduled for December 5, 2026.
- Who
- The International Olympic Committee urged the Indian Olympic Association and its Electoral Officer to ensure fair elections. P.T. Usha is also involved in the dispute.
- What
- The IOC called for the IOA elections to comply with the Olympic Charter and applicable rules, without external interference.
- When
- The IOC issued its statement on November 13, 2026. The IOA elections are scheduled for December 5.
- Where
- India.
- Why
- The IOC said disputes over the election process and implementation of election rules were harming the reputation and operations of India’s Olympic movement.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
P.T. Usha missed out on election to the Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit panel.
The provisional electoral list for the IOA Executive Council elections was released, naming Usha as one of two representatives of the Ice Hockey Federation of India.
The IOC said disputes over the IOA election process were harming India’s Olympic movement and urged a fair election without external interference.
The IOA elections are scheduled to take place.
- IOA elections
- Scheduled for December 5, 2026
- IOC statement
- November 13, 2026
- Usha’s nomination
- Ice Hockey Federation of India
- Usha’s election bid
- Eligible to contest the IOA elections
- SOM panel
- Usha was not elected to the Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit panel
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What people are saying
The IOC is very disappointed to note that, once again, issues and disputes seem to have resurfaced in the conduct of the IOA election process and in the implementation of the rules governing the IOA elections, despite all the efforts made over the past few years to establish a strong governance framework for the IOA in accordance with the Olympic Charter and the Basic Principles of Good Governance within the Olympic Movement.
The IOC has urged the IOA and the Electoral Officer directly responsible for the IOA election process to ensure that the IOA elections can be conducted in full compliance with the Olympic Charter, the IOA Constitution, and all applicable rules, in a free and fair manner and without any external interference,