Will conduct enquiry and report to government on Glasgow arrests: N Ramachandran

NEW DELHI: Indian Olympic Association president N Ramachandran today said that it will conduct an enquiry into the arrests of IOA Secretary General Rajeev Mehta and international wrestling referee Virender Malik during the Commonwealth Games and will give a report to the Government.

"The IOA will conduct an enquiry into the whole incident and we will come out with a reply because I am sure the Government will also ask us about the report of the incident. It is unfair for me to comment on this before the media, especially when it involves an office bearer of the IOA. As and when the report is finalised we will tell the government," said Ramachandran.

Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal yesterday said that the government has sought a report on the arrest of the two officials in Glasgow.

Asked if the IOA is yet to give a clean chit to the two officials in the wake of pending enquiry, Ramachandran said, "Scottish court has dropped the charges against them, citing lack of evidence. What more do you want the IOA to do, other than having an internal assessment of the situation?

We cannot have a trial by the media. For both the officials, the Scottish court, not even an Indian court, has dropped charges. All of us have the faith in the judicial system, whether it is in India or abroad, and all charges have been dropped against them.

We have to go by the facts that are in front of the IOA," he added.

Ramachandran refused to disclose whether the two officials will be reprimanded.

"The IOA will do its fact finding," insisted Ramachandran.

He also urged the media to focus more on the achievements of the athletes who returned home with a rich-haul of 64 medals at the recently-concluded Glasgow Games.

"We should not overshadow the achievements of the athletes at Glasgow by talking about this. We will conduct an enquiry and answer the government."

Wishing the Indian athletes very best for the upcoming Asian Games at Incheon, Ramachandran said, "I am sure our athletes will do as well (at the Asian Games) as they did in CWG if not better," he said.