Rlys threaten to steamroll IOA

Problems for the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), it seems, can enter its door at will these days. After the Sunita Rani dope scandal at th...

Problems for the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), it seems, can enter its door at will these days. After the Sunita Rani dope scandal at the Asian Games and the accreditation scam, it is now the turn of the Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) that is likely to pose a bigger headache for both IOA and the organisers of the National Games at Hyderabad this December.


(From left) Beenamol, Neelam Jaswant Singh and Saraswati Saha: Will not get permission to represent their states of origin.

If the threat of RSPB is any indication, the Railways are determined to go ahead with sending direct entries to the Games organisers, bypassing the IOA, or the Games’ organisers will have to conduct them without the Railway athletes’ participation, which means missing some of the best Indian athletes .

Documents in possession of The Indian Express, including the ultimatum issued by RSPB secretary TR Choudhary to the IOA secretary-general Randhir Singh on Monday, states that ‘‘RSPB has decided that like Services Sports Control Board, Railways will participate in all the recognised disciplines in the forthcoming National Games. The entries of all the Railways teams accordingly will be sent to the organising secretary, National Games. In case, Indian Railways’ team are not permitted to participate, RSPB will not allow any player of Railways to participate in the Games on behalf of the States.’’

Sunita Rani: Changing lanes

SEPTEMBER 30: Sunita cleared for Asian Games after SAI’s dope test conducted in Patiala. As per rule, athlete’s clearance is possible only after sample results shows negative.
OCTOBER 10: Sunita wins gold at Busan in 1500m
OCTOBER 12: Sunita adds a bronze in 5,000m
OCTOBER 13: Sunita fails first dope test after 1500m race. Nandralone found in her first sample but she denies taking any banned substance and claims her innocence.
OCTOBER 14: Sunita fails second test after 5,000m. Nandralone found in her sample. India’s chef-de-mission Jagdish Tytler admits that they have been informed.
OCTOBER 16: Sunita stripped of both medals but Indian officials keep a studious silence even as IOA chief Suresh Kalmadi promises strictest action against the athlete.
OCTOBER 20: AAFI appoints Sushil Salwan to inquire into the case. Games’ official website disqualifies Sunita while crediting the medals to other athletes. But Indian officials deny that Sunita’s medals have been stripped.
OCTOBER 21: OCA officially withdraws Sunita’s medals, asking IOA to return them. OCA secretary general Randhir Singh, who’s also IOA’s secretary general, says Sunita’s ‘B’ sample was positive and no more test remains to be done.
OCTOBER 23: Sunita makes her first appearance before the media since the scandal broke out. The Salwan committee requests for more 10 days to complete its findings.
NOVEMBER 11: Salwan committee recommendations made public. Report points to the discrepancies in the quantity of nandralone in Sunita’s A and B sample results. Salwan states categorically: ‘‘I am not giving a clean chit to Sunita. I am merely saying that at this stage there is a strong evidence to fight her case and it’s up to the athlete and AAFI now.’’

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The crux of the problem, as RSPB puts it, is that despite ‘‘reminders from the Minister of State for Railways for membership to the IOA since 2000,’’ it has not been granted one. In fact, Choudhary’s letter alleges that the IOA has not even been acknowledged them.

Under the circumstances, the Railways have already thrown down the gauntlet and the result in either case — whether they get a direct entry or decide to pull out of the Games — could mean a prolonged battle between IOA and the Railways, who employ a major chunk of sportspersons in the country.

It was the Railway stars, including athletes like KM Beenamol, Neelam Jaswant Singh and Saraswati Saha, who accounted for the lion’s share of medals at the Busan Asian Games, besides the entire women;’s hockey team that won the gold at the Commonwealth Games.

The Railways sportspersons had been representing their states of origin at the Games so far. But the RSPB is, however, adamant this time in view of the recent decision. In his letter to the 24 Railways units across the country, Choudhary says: ‘‘Please ensure that no Railway player is permitted to attend coaching camp of their respective states.’’

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If the Railways have their way — it’s apparently trying to garner support from the rival faction in the IOA to support its case — the present set of office-bearers in IOA could be in big trouble.

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