NEW DELHI: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has stepped into the raging Indian Olympic Association (IOA) election controversy, expressing strong displeasure over the recurring disputes surrounding its electoral process and warning that the developments are damaging the reputation of the Olympic movement in India.In a strongly worded communication to IOA president PT Usha on her complaints, the world body has called for elections to be conducted in strict compliance with the Olympic Charter and IOA Constitution, in a “free and fair manner and without any external interference”.The IOC’s letter to Usha, in the exclusive possession of TOI, comes in the wake of the IOA president’s Nov 9 communication to IOC president Kirsty Coventry, in which she sought an independent examination of alleged irregularities in the contentious Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOM) elections. The latest communication, signed by James Macleod, Director, NOC Relations, Olympic Solidarity and Olympism365, has also been marked to IOC member Nita Ambani and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).Opening with an unambiguous expression of displeasure, Macleod wrote: “In response to the complaints and media reports that have been brought to our attention over the past few days, we would like to express the IOC’s position as follows.”The IOC then made its disappointment explicit, stating: “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.”In perhaps its strongest observation, the IOC warned that the controversy was having consequences beyond the IOA’s internal power struggle. “This extremely regrettable situation is, once again, negatively affecting the operations and reputation of the Olympic Movement in India,” the letter stated.The IOC’s intervention assumes significance against the backdrop of Usha’s detailed complaint to Coventry. In her three-page communication, the IOA president had flagged alleged campaigning by incumbent officials, WhatsApp messages soliciting votes for a particular panel, communications seeking confirmation of voters’ participation and references to the sports ministry during an election involving a secret ballot.She had also questioned the handling of four representations submitted to electoral officer Sanjay K. Srivastava and sought an independent examination of whether government or external influence had been exerted.Usha had maintained that her complaint was not an attempt to challenge the result simply because she had lost, but was about the conduct and oversight of the electoral process and the need to protect the autonomy of the IOA.The IOC has now directly addressed the responsibility of those conducting the elections. “We urge 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,” Macleod wrote.The letter further stressed: “We sincerely count on everyone’s collaboration to ensure that the above is strictly respected, in order to avoid any unnecessary complications and further escalation.” It also requested that a copy be sent to the relevant government authorities.The controversy erupted after Usha finished fifth with 40 votes in the six-way contest for four women’s SOM positions on November 9. Anju Bobby George topped the poll with 53 votes, followed by Rani Rampal (50), Dola Banerjee (45) and Saina Nehwal (43).While the IOC has not adjudicated Usha’s specific allegations or named anyone responsible for the reported violations, its unequivocal warning puts the IOA’s electoral administration under international scrutiny.With the executive council elections scheduled for Dec 5, the message is unmistakable: the process must command credibility, follow the rules and remain free from external interference.