The IOA were suspended by the IOC in December last year over interference from the Government after Lalit Bhanot, who served 11 months in custody for corruption charges relating to the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, ran unopposed for the position of secretary general.

Government and IOA officials met with the IOC in Lausanne in May this year and held "fruitful meetings" with the intention of exploring the possibility of holding new democratic and transparent elections on the basis of a revised IOA constitution and the Olympic Charter, with no outside interference.

A 43-page draft constitution has been sent to the IOA for them to adopt before holding these new elections in September, including a clause which states that no person with a criminal conviction may run in IOA elections.

But, despite objections to the clause in question from the IOA, the man that led the delegation for the meetings in Lausanne, Indian Sports Minister Jitendra Singh, showed his support for the IOC and the measures they are taking to ensure that tainted officials cannot take office in a statement today.

India were suspended by the IOC in December, but Sports Minister Jitendra Singh is hoping for a speedy resolution

"The Government also supports the efforts of the IOC to strengthen ethical standards in the IOA, through a clause which stipulates that persons standing for elections as office bearers of the IOA are free from criminal charges," he said.

"We hope that a solution to the impasse between the IOC and the IOA will be found during the general body meeting of the IOA."

The IOA are due hold their meeting this Sunday (August 25), where they will decide whether to adopt the new draft constitution, and Singh urged administrators to put the interests of themselves behind those of the nation to ensure that the ban is lifted as soon as possible.

"The Government of India urges all concerned to ensure that individual interests should not come in the way of our national interest and good of sports," he insisted.

"I won't leave any stone unturned in making sure that our sportsmen get their due and can take part in international event under the Indian flag."

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