Close on the heels of the International Boxing Association provisionally suspending the Indian Federation, the Sports Ministry also suspended recognition to the IABF, citing “flawed and faulty” elections.
This was announced by the Sports Minister Jitendra Singh, who said the IABF election held in September were in “violation of the procedure laid down in the Sports Code.”
“IABF has been suspended primarily on grounds that elections were flawed and faulty and the nomination time given was very less. When the nomination did not come in, people were just picked from the house. We have given them 15 days time to confirm that they would hold a re-election,” said the Minister.
The September elections saw incumbent President Abhay Singh Chautala being made the nominated Chairman, replaced by his brother-in-law and BJP MLA from Rajasthan Abhishek Matoria, 29, as President.
The Ministry listed the flaws in the election in a detailed statement. “The publication of the electoral roll was flawed because it was not possible for the electoral roll to be dispatched to members by post prior to the last date for filing of nominations and merely publishing on the Web site is not considered sufficient notice or information to all members,” it said.
Among other flaws, the Ministry said, “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.”
Rattled by the suspension, Chautala said he was willing to step down from his post and the body was ready to hold a re-election to regain AIBA’s affiliation.
“We are ready for a re-election and I am ready to quit the post of chairman. AIBA can send its observer and fix the date also. I have told the IABF President and Secretary-General to speak to the AIBA officials and sort out the matter,” Chautala told presspersons here.
“Whoever has complained against us is against the country. There is no problem in boxing,” he insisted.
The development put a question mark over Chautala’s election as IOA President since he came into the fray as an IABF representative. Chautala, however, asserted that his position in the IOA is not threatened as he is the President of the Haryana Olympic Association.
Archery Association of India: The Ministry also de-recognised the Archery Association of India (AAI) with immediate effect for “violating the age and tenure guidelines” of the Government’s Sports Code during its elections last month.
“The Archery Association of India held its elections on November 9, 2012. While the procedures adopted in the elections were in conformity with the procedures laid down in the Sports Code and common practice, the Archery Association has violated the age and tenure restrictions prescribed in the Sports Code,” the Sports Minister told presspersons during a press conference here.
“The President elect of the Archery Association of India has served for more than three consecutive terms in the past and is also above the age of 70 years.
“The High Court in its Civil Writ Petition No.195/2010 dated 15.02.2012 and 17.09.2012 had directed that the Government shall not grant recognition to the Archery Association of India unless they hold elections in line with 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.
During its elections last month, octogenarian BJP leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra was re-elected as the president of the AAI for the 10th term which means he will retain the position for an unprecendented 40th year, a gross violation of the age and tenure guidelines under the Sports Code.
The Sports Minister has advised the AAI to hold fresh elections for the post of president, in conformity with the Sports Code.
Jitendra has also asked the AAI to amend its constitution to bring it in conformity with the Sports Code and the Olympic Charter.