Sports Ministry says Politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen who have been occupying the top posts in various National Sports Federations (NSF) for more than a decade will have to step down after their current term expires. The Ministry has modified a 1975 regulation that suggests Indian Olympic Association President Suresh Kalmadi and several NSF chiefs cannot seek a re-election after their present term expires. The Ministry today said it has decided to restore the modified tenure clause, which was kept in abeyance by former Sports Minister Uma Bharti in 2001, to encourage professional management, good governance, transparency, accountability and democratic elections in NSFs, including IOA.The modified clause caps the tenure of the president of an NSF, including IOA, to 12 years with or without break. For the Secretary and the Treasurer, it shall not be more than two successive tenures of four years each. The ministry said that there will be a retirement age of 70 years for all members and office bearers, it added. Most of the NSFs have politicians at the top, while bureaucrats and businessmen too have been found clinging onto the top posts for long.