IOA president PT Usha issues notice to treasurer for sports code violation

The Indian Olympic Association drama continues as President PT Usha has issued a show-cause notice to IOA treasurer Sahdev Yadav.

The letter is about the complaint that his election violates the country's National Sports Code. In a letter dated September 10, Usha asked Yadav to give his reply by September 24.

"I am writing to you to bring to your attention a formal complaint that the Indian Olympic Association has recently received concerning your eligibility to contest the position of Treasurer in the last elections. The complainant cites a ruling from Hon'ble High Court, which, according to the complainant, raises concerns about your eligibility to stand for election," Usha wrote in her letter to Yadav.

A copy of the letter has also been sent to Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and International Olympic Committee's Associate Director of NOC (National Olympic Committee) Relations Department Jerome Poivey.

Yadav is a former secretary of the Indian Weightlifting Federation and it has been alleged that he is violating the age and tenure cap set by sports code.

The complainant has raised similar concerns on non-adherence to the Sports Code against other members of the IOA including National Rifle Association vice-president Ajay Patel, Wushu Federation of India's Bhupinder Singh Bajwa, and Rowing Federation of India president Rajlakshmi Singh Deo among others.

The complainant, whose identity has been withheld by the IOA, has demanded immediate removal of these individuals from the IOA executive committee.

This complaint adds to the ongoing war between PT Usha and the body's executive council. Both have been at loggerheads from earlier this year with Usha claiming that EC wants to sideline her.