M A I N   N E W S

Govt de-recognises archery association, suspends boxing body
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 7
Indian sports plunged into deeper trouble today when the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports today “de-recognised” the Archery Association of India (AAI) and “suspended” recognition of the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) with “immediate effect”.

Sports Ministry’s objections Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Jitendra Singh in New Delhi on Friday. * The Archery Association of India has not adhered to the Sports Code * It re-elected VK Malhotra was as president though he had crossed the age of 70 * Besides, Malhotra had completed over three terms, thus making himself “ineligible” for re-election * The publication of the electoral rolls of the boxing federation “were flawed” * Members were not given sufficient time to file nominations “as the gap between finalisation of poll rolls and the filing of papers was too short * Nominations of the candidates were taken from the floor of the House “on a date after the last date of nomination and this is not permissible”

The International Boxing Federation has also suspended the IABF, pending an enquiry into the elections held on September 23, a decision that will affect the boxers’ participation in international competitions.

Sports Minister Jitendra Singh said, “The Government will open a dialogue with the IABF to set in place interim measures so that the athletes are not affected”.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), which had suspended the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on December 4 for the application of the Government Sports Code in its elections, in its latest communication to the IOA said it will not recognise the newly elected body, headed by Abhay Singh Chautala.

“There is no change concerning the current office-bearers of the suspended IOA with Malhotra as Acting President (provided he does not act against the IOC directives) and Randhir Singh as the secretary general”, IOC director-general Christophe De Kepper informed the IOA in a letter dated December 6.

Jitendra Singh said the AAI has been de-recognised as it had not adhered to the Sports Code in some respects in the elections of office-bearers on November 9. VK Malhotra was re-elected as president though he had crossed the age of 70. He had completed more than three terms as the president, thus making himself “ineligible” for re-election.

“It’s ironic that while the IOC recognises me as the IOA acting president, the ministry has de-recognised the AAI because I have been re-elected as its president”, Malhotra said.

Jitendra said though the procedures adopted in the AAI elections were “in conformity with the procedures laid down in the Sports Code and common practice”, it had violated the “age and tenure restrictions”.

“The president-elect of the AAI has served for more than three consecutive terms in the post, and is also above the age of 70 years”, the Minister told reporters. He said the Delhi High Court had directed that the “Government shall not grant recognition to the AAI unless they hold elections as per the Sports Code”.

“In view of the directions of the High Court, the Government has no option, but to withdraw the recognition of the Archery Association of India”, the minister said.

The ministry has suspended recognition of the IABF “as the election of the IABF held on 23-9-2012 were in violation of the procedure laid down in the Sports Code”. The ministry cited that the publication of the electoral roll for the boxing body elections “were flawed” and the members were not given sufficient time to file nominations “as the gap between the finalisation of the electoral roll and the filing of nomination was too short to allow people to travel large distances and file nominations personally”.

Another charge against the IABF was that the nominations of the candidates were taken from the floor of the House “on a date which was after the last date of nomination and this is not permissible”.

The minister said in view of the above flaws, “The entire election (to the boxing body) needs to be held fresh”. He said the Government has suspended the IABF pending fresh elections, and a notice will be sent to it to confirm that it will hold “fresh elections under independent supervision within a period of 15 days, failing which the de-recognition will be made absolute”.

The newly elected IOA is headed by Abhay Singh Chautala, who is also the chairman of the IABF.

The IOC, in its latest communication to the IOA, stated: “The IOA is no longer entitled to exercise any activity or right conferred upon it by the Olympic Charter of the IOC”. “The IOC does not and will not recognise the so-called elections which the suspended IOA decided to conduct in violation of the IOC directives”, wrote Christophe De Kepper. He termed the “so-called elections null and void.”