NEW DELHI: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has not approved any relaxation beyond the 70-year age ceiling for candidates contesting or seeking nominations in Indian Olympic Association (IOA) elections.IOA’s existing Article 14.3 allows members above 70 to contest if permitted by international charters and statutes.The amended provision, adopted here at Tuesday’s Special General Body Meeting (SGBM), removes that exception and fixes 70 as the ceiling for office-bearers and executive council (EC) members.“The IOC has said the age cap is 70 years. Accordingly, the IOA constitution has been amended,” an IOA official confirmed to TOI.The SGBM, attended by IOA officials, national sports federations (NSFs) and Olympic associations (SOAs), adopted the amended constitution before it goes to the General Assembly for ratification.The changes permit office-bearers or EC members to serve three consecutive terms in position, separately or in combination, before a cooling-off period. Presidential and treasurer term limits remain three and two terms respectively.No election dates to IOA were announced at the SGBM.
