Suresh Kalmadi, the chairman of the IOA, promised to respond to calls from the IOC, who sent him a letter earlier this month calling for the changes, which included the 34 sports federations having voting rights with only their Presidents eligible to take part. 

"This issue came up because of the Government guidelines issued for Federations," said Kalmadi.

The guidelines include barring sports chiefs from contesting for a third consecutive term as well as those who are above 70 years old.

"Randhir Singh [the IOA secretary-general] had gone to the IOC headquarters in Lausanne with joint secretary in the Sports Ministry [Injeti Shrinivas]," said Kalmadi.

"In that meeting held some time back, it was decided to reconstitute the constitution to regularise voting pattern in the IOA to make things uniform as it were."

The changes can be made only in the next IOA annual meeting and that would be held during the National Games in February.

Kalmadi, who is under pressure in India for his role as chairman of the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi earlier this year, has denied claims that the changes could lead to his removal.

"Whatever was the voting pattern, I was elected unanimously for the last two terms," said Kalmadi, who has been President of the IOC since 1996.


Related stories
June 2010: Indian Olympians complain to IOC about Kalmadi
June 2010: Indian Government facing disaster if they do not back down warns Singh
June 2010: Singh calls Indian badminton re-election victory for Olympic Movement
June 2010: Indian sports refuse to give into Government pressure
May 2010: We should be congratulated not sacked claims Kalmadi