New Delhi: Former secretary-general of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee Lalit Bhanot on Wednesday attended his first meeting of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) since being released from jail on bail in January.

As an IOA joint secretary, Bhanot, who was arrested in February last year for alleged financial irregularities in organising the Commonwealth Games, attended the special general assembly meeting for amending its constitution.

The general assembly meeting reverted to the original constitution, rejecting the amendments made last year during the Ranchi National Games.

At Ranchi, it was decided that the National Sports Federations (NSF) of Olympic disciplines will have two votes each instead of three and the state Olympic associations one instead of two. The General Assembly rejected the amendments and restored the original arrangement.

The assembly also accepted the amendment to have eight vice presidents and six joint secretaries and also restored the discretionary powers of the president to appoint office-bearers and committees and commissions on disciplinary matters.

"It restored full powers to the president to set up committees/commissions, decide about the disciplinary issues and appoint associate vice presidents and joint secretaries. It also approved the decision of giving the sponsorship money to the sports persons qualified for the London Olympics.

"It also approved the amendment that NSFs, whose disciplines are part of the Olympic/Asian and Commonwealth Games will have three votes each while State Olympic Associations two votes each," an IOA statement said.

IOA president Suresh Kalmadi, who was also released on bail earlier this year, stayed away from the meeting since he himself had written to the acting president Vijay Kumar Malhotra that he would stay away from the proceedings of the IOA.

But Kalmadi hosted a party for all the members of the IOA here Tuesday followed by a dinner by secretary general Randhir Singh. Most members attended both the parties. IOA acting president Vijay Kumar Malhotra was a conspicuous absentee at both the parties.

Malhotra also made it clear to the general body meeting that Ethics Commission and Court of Arbitration set up by the IOA will start functioning only after the four-member committee submits its report which will have to be ratified by the General House.