The Sports Ministry have written to Rogge claiming that the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) have created a !false situation of crisis" over plans by the Government to limit the amount of time senior officials can serve in their posts.

Among those that would be affected by the proposed changes are Suresh Kalmadi, the President of the IOA, and Randhir Singh, the secretary general of the IOA and a member of the IOC.

In his letter to Rogge, the Ministry's Joint Secretary Injeti Srinivas claimed that they have not received the latest letter from IOC National Olympic Committee (NOC) Relations Director Pere Miro and Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) director general Husain Al-Musallam warning that if the plan was not dropped the issue would be referred to the IOC Executive Board meeting next month.

Under the rules of the Olympic Charter, the IOC Executive Board have the power to suspend countries if they decide there is Government interference in the running of an NOC.

Srinivas wrote to Rogge: "We are confident that IOC will acquaint itself with the full facts before forming any view in the present case.

"We expect that our meeting with you can be scheduled early to enable a comprehensive appreciation of the entire matter."

Srinivas claimed that Singh has misled the IOC over the situation and that he and Kalmadi were just trying to protect themselves.

He wrote: "It is unfortunate that the IOC member from India has not even cared to consult us before taking up this matter with you.

"This is an attempt to create a false situation of crisis, by a few interested persons, whose only aim is to protect their unduly long tenures in the IOA and the NSFs (National Sports Federations)."

The guidelines issued earlier this month by the Ministry of Sport restricted the tenure of Presidents of the National Sports Federations and the IOA to 12 years, that of the secretaries and treasurers for eight years in one stretch and that all executives should retire by the age of 70.

In the letter to Rogge, the Ministry cited Government sports regulations in countries like the United States and Malaysia to assert that ensuring accountability of NSFs was not in violation of the Olympic charter.

The Indian Government claim that Singh has deliberately tried to shield this information.

Srinivas wrote: "He is fully aware of the proceedings before the Delhi High Court, as IOA is a respondent, in the ongoing Public Interest Litigation.

"Further, as the Secretary General of OCA, he is conversant with the sports legislations of Malaysia and Sri Lanka."

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