The IOC rejected a call by the Kuwaiti government to "temporarily lift a 14-month sports ban while the Gulf State amends a controversial law." World sports bodies led by the IOC and FIFA suspended Kuwait in Oct. '15 for the second time since '10 "over alleged government meddling in sports." In a letter to the Kuwaiti government on Saturday, the IOC said that it "will not be in a position to reconsider the situation" until the country complies with a number of steps to become fully compatible with the Olympic Charter (AFP, 1/1).
Indian Olympic Association President N. Ramachandran on Saturday said that he will "take up the issue of IOA's suspension with the government" after consulting the IOC and Olympic Council of Asia. The Sports Ministry on Friday "suspended the Olympic body till the time it reverses the decision to make the scam-tainted duo of Suresh Kalmadi and Abhay Singh Chautala its life presidents." The government "took the firm decision to suspend IOA after it failed to reply to its showcause notice" by the stipulated Dec. 30 deadline (PTI, 12/31).
