IOA Model Code of Conduct bars criticism of candidates’ private lives and all forms of publicity ahead of November elections
In New Delhi on November 1, 2026 the Indian Olympic Association issued a Model Code of Conduct ahead of the virtual elections for its Athletes’ Commission (to be held on November 3) and the Sportspersons of Merit polls (scheduled for November 9) that prohibits criticism of candidates’ private lives and bans publicity, including via new media and social networks.
The Athletes’ Commission election will choose 10 members — five men and five women — from 12 candidates, and will be decided by a 34-member electoral college comprising two representatives from each of 17 National Sports Federations. The SOMs poll will elect eight members — four men and four women — from a list of 80 nominated SOMs (40 men and 40 women) notified by the Electoral Officer. Olympic medallists P.V. Sindhu and Mirabai Chanu are among the 12 contestants for the Athletes’ Commission, and incumbent IOA President P.T. Usha is among those seeking one of the eight SOMs. Both elections will be conducted virtually, and the Electoral Officer, Sanjay Kumar Srivastava, will issue separate instructions later.
One provision of the Model Code addressed attacks on opponents, stating: "A candidate shall not produce any spoken word, written text or representation of any nature likely to harm the image of another candidate or cause him prejudice, and criticism of other candidates, if made, shall be confined to their policies and programme, past record and work." The code therefore confines permissible criticism to public activities, records and programmes rather than personal matters.
The document further stipulates restrictions on promotion and gatherings: "The promotion of a candidate shall exclude any form of publicity, including the use of new media or social networks, and no public meeting or gathering of any kind may be organised in the process of promoting a candidature.” That provision applies to campaign publicity channels and forbids organising public meetings to advance a candidature.
On private life and unverified allegations the code requires restraint, stating: "NSF and candidates shall refrain from criticism of all aspects of private life, not connected with the public activities of the athletes. No candidate shall engage in criticism based on unverified allegations or distortion against any other candidate, and there shall be no appeal to caste or communal feelings for securing votes." The rule explicitly bars appeals to caste or communal sentiments in campaigning.
Regarding campaign conduct the Model Code prescribes ethical standards, saying: "Candidates shall conduct all campaigns with dignity and moderation and with respect for any other candidates, the National Sports Body and its members." It also warns against activities that could inflame social divisions: "No NSF or candidate shall include in any activity which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic.”
Procedural and anti-corruption measures are addressed in the code, which allows candidates to present written plans: "Every candidate may present to the members in the electoral roll, his plans and views for the elected post, in the form of a written document, which shall be published by the Electoral Officer..." It also instructs candidates to "scrupulously avoid all activities that are 'corrupt practices', including bribing of voters, intimidation of voters, impersonation of voters" and to "avoid excessive expenditure in campaigning" while prohibiting gifts, donations or advantages to voting members.
Separate instructions about the conduct and administration of the virtual elections will be issued later by Electoral Officer Sanjay Kumar Srivastava.
