New Delhi: Tainted Indian sports administrator Suresh Kalmadi has been made Life President of the Asian Athletics Association for his "work in the development of athletics in the continent" during his 13-year tenure as the head of organisation from 2000. Kalmadi, who was jailed and later released on bail in connection with the 2010 Commonwealth Games scam, was nominated for the honorary post at the 80th Council Meeting of the AAA in Jakarta on March 12.


Suresh Kalmadi 

"The Council resolved to include Mr Suresh Kalmadi, former president of AAA as a Hon Life President of AAA for his work in the development of athletics in Asia during his tenure," the AAA said in a statement. Kalmdai's reign as the head of AAA ended when he lost the presidential election to current chief Dahlan Al-Hamad of
Qatar in a close contest in July 2013 in Pune just before the start of Asian Athletics Championships in his home town.