Bhanot, who was jailed and later released on bail in connection with the Commonwealth Games corruption scam, filed his nomination papers a few days back.
Other candidates who are said to have filed nominations for the IOA Secretary General's post before the deadline expired at 5 pm today were Volleyball Federation of India Secretary General K Murugan and Judo Federation of India General Secretary Mukesh Kumar.
Murugan, who has been nominated in the electoral college by Tamil Nadu Olympic Association, and Mukesh, who is in the voters' list from Judo Federation of India, are said to be supporters of incumbent IOA Secretary General Randhir Singh who is contesting against Abhay Singh Chautala for the president's post.
The list of those valid candidates will be announced tomorrow after scrutiny while they can withdraw their candidature till November 20.
Whether Bhanot will contest the polls or not has been a matter of speculation after the Ethics Commission of the International Olympic Committee had directed the IOA to bar him, along with Suresh Kalmadi and V K Verma, from fighting in the elections.
But Bhanot said that he was entitled to contest in the election which is a democratic process.
"It's a democracy and I have the right to contest the elections. My name is there in the voters' list and so I can contest the elections," Bhanot, who has been nominated in the electoral college by Delhi Olympic Association, said. MORE
