The IOC again today backed the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) in their battle over autonomy with the Ministry of Sports.

In a joint letter, IOC National Olympic Committee (NOC) Relations Director Pere Miro and Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) director general Husain Al-Musallam said if the Ministry insisted on implementing the tenure-capping guidelines, the issue would be referred to the IOC Executive Board meeting next month.

They could suspend India from international competition, which would overshadow preparations for the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in October and prevent India from competing at the London Olympics in 2012.

The letter dated said: "We [the IOC] would like to remind you, once more, that in the event where the directives issued by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports would be imposed on the Olympic Movement in India [even for future elections], we would be forced to report this case to the next IOC Executive Board meeting according to the rules of the Olympic Charter, in particular Rule 28.9."

Randhir Singh, the secretary general of the IOA and a member of the IOC, one of the leading officials set to be affected by the new Government proposal which limits the length of time senior officials are able to serve before being forced to step down, welcomed the IOC's hard-line stance.

Singh (pictured right with IOA President Suresh Kalmadi) is currently in Lausanne after visiting the IOC to discuss the crisis.

He said: "This is a step in the right direction.

"Even the IOC has clarified that the autonomy of the Olympic Committee has to be maintained.

"As mentioned in the letter, we can’t go against the Olympic Charter."

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.

Gill confirmed he has received the IOC letter but that the matter should be resolved within the country.

He said: "I have got the letter and I can understand why it is being written again and again.

"This is an issue between ourselves and should be resolved within the country.

"There should be a limit to the tenure and age.

"I have not brought a new guideline.

"I have only revived the 1975 guideline.

"The IOA should respect the opinion of the people of this country."

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