IOA president PT Usha accuses sports ministry of undermining sports governance

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha accused the sports ministry of interfering in the affairs of national federations in a strongly worded letter.

Usha said the ministry has “undermined the credibility of sports governance”.

With the ministry at loggerheads with the IOA for recognising the Indian Golf Union (IGU) elections won by the Harish Kumar Shetty-led faction, Usha said sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya is not being “properly apprised” of various important issues concerning national federations, including the contentious IGU polls.

In a letter dated January 2 and signed by the undersecretary, the ministry said the IOA’s act of according recognition to Shetty’s faction can “create avoidable duplication and confusion” which may not withstand legal scrutiny.

In her response, Usha said, “The manner in which this letter has been issued appears procedurally incorrect and reflects a lack of verification of the facts on record and a complete non application of mind by the Under Secretary.”

“Sir, since I have assumed office in the lOA, it has become more and more apparent that the staff of the Ministry deliberately never appraises the true and correct facts to the Hon’ble Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports,” she added.

The letter was also sent to the International Olympic Committee (IOA) and the International Golf Federation.

The IOA held two Annual General Meetings (AGMs) on December 15 to elect the new IGU office-bearers.

The IOA said it gave recognition to the faction led by Shetty after having “reviewed the facts” and “examined the procedural adherence” of the contentious polls but the ministry took a stern view of the move made by the country’s apex sports body.

However, Usha said the body recognised by the ministry “did not meet the quorum requirements as stipulated under Article 22 of the IGU Constitution”.

Responding to the ministry’s concerns that the IOA recognition of the IGU elections violates the National Sports Code, Usha said ,“These concerns appear unfounded”.

Usha pointed out that national sports federations (NSFs) such as equestrian, yachting etc., which have failed to conduct elections after the completion of their term almost three years back, continue to enjoy recognition from the ministry, in clear violation of the NSDC 2011.

She also cited as an example the matter involving the Wrestling Federation of India and the Haryana Wrestling Association in the Supreme Court.

“It is troubling that the Ministry has placed undue emphasis on the mere updating of the International Golf Federation (IGF) website as a basis for granting recognition to the faction of IGU. Such reliance on superficial factors cannot be the foundation for granting recognition to a National Sports Federation.” Seeking to bring to his attention “the inconsistency displayed in the ministry’s actions”, Usha said, “While the recognition of this IGU faction has been expedited based on an incomplete report, the elections of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), conducted in December 2023 under the orders of the Apex Court and duly recognized by International Federation of Wrestling i.e. United World Wrestling (UWW) and also by the Indian Olympic Association (IA), continue to face delays in recognition by the Ministry.