SOCHI (Reuters) - India has returned to the Olympic fold after the International Olympic Committee lifted a ban on the country's Olympic Association on Tuesday.

Indian athletes have been competing at the Sochi Winter Games under the Olympic flag due to the country's suspension, imposed after the country held a 2012 Olympic association (IOA) election in which a corruption-tainted official was voted in as secretary general.

On Sunday the IOA elected a new set of officials. World Squash Federation chief N. Ramachandran was elected president with All India Tennis Association chief Anil Khanna becoming treasurer in polls which marked the exit of corruption-tainted Abhay Singh Chautala and Lalit Bhanot from the IOA.

"It's great news for the Indian athletes," said Randhir Singh, International Olympic Committee member from India.

"IOA has finally realised that the Olympic Charter is supreme and you have to fall in line and follow the principles of ethics and good governance. Tainted officials have no place in IOA."