Indian Olympic Affiliation (IOA) chief PT Usha on Sunday issued an explosive press launch, slamming the 12 Govt Council IOA members who had condemned her “autocratic” strategies in workplace in a letter addressed to the Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) Director of Worldwide Relations Jerome Poivey.
In a gathering between the warring factions on Thursday, additionally attended by IOC Director Poivey, an embattled Usha outrightly dismissed the EC members’ demand to take away Raghuram Iyer from the CEO’s submit.
The 12 EC members later despatched a letter to Poivey, stating that they need the nationwide physique to be ruled “democratically” and that they may re-advertise for the place of the IOA CEO.
Nonetheless, Usha tried to shoot down the accusations as she questioned the motives of the EC members.
Key factors from Usha’s letter
‘Raghuram Iyer not paid a single rupee’
A serious level of battle between the IOA chief and the EC members was the Rs 20 lakh per 30 days wage for Iyer moreover different perks. Nonetheless, Usha had mentioned she supplied to renegotiate Iyer’s wage in Thursday’s assembly however the EC members had been adamant about beginning the method afresh.
Usha claimed that Iyer’s appointment was carried out following the IOA structure. Usha additionally claimed that Iyer has but to obtain any pay since his appointment in January 2024, alleging persistent interventions from the EC members.
“In actuality, regardless of his official appointment, Mr. Iyer has not been paid a single rupee until date. The delay in paying his wage is solely as a result of sure EC members proceed to defy the provisions of the IOA Structure, obstructing needed progress and decision-making. If these people had been genuinely involved about transparency, one should then query their vehement denial for recording of our Govt Council conferences. A real dedication to transparency would embrace accountability, however their actions clearly converse in any other case,” Usha wrote.
‘Questionable observe file of EC members’
Usha additionally alleged that members of the Govt Council bore “questionable observe data, together with allegations of gender bias and even instances of sexual harassment filed towards them.”
The legendary athlete additionally accused Treasurer Sahdev Yadav and members of the IOA’s Monetary Committee of misapproprating IOA funds. “Through the CAG audit, it has come to my consideration that IOA Treasurer Mr. Sahdev Yadav, in connivance with the members of the IOA Finance Committee headed by Mr. Ajay Patel and comprising of Mrs. Rajlaxmi Singh Deo, Mr. BS Bajwa, Mr. Amitabh Sharma, Mr. Rohit Rajpal, Lt. Gen. Harpal Singh and Ms. Monal Choksi have surreptitiously written off massive sums of monies owed to the IOA,” Usha wrote.
Slams Kalyan Chaubey, Rohit Rajpal
Usha additionally slammed IOA’s former appearing CEO Kalyan Chaubey for ‘bypassing’ the IOA’s Basic Meeting to grant affiliation to the Taekwondo Federation of India, a physique that isn’t recognised by its World or Asian federations. Usha alleged Chaubey of “inflicting imminent hurt to our hard-working Taekwondo athletes.”
Usha additionally accused Volleyball’s advert hoc committee and mentioned: “A case of utilizing the IOA’s PAN card by the Advert hoc committee in command of Volleyball, headed by Mr. Rohit Rajpal and its member Ms. Alaknanda Ashok, can be being investigated because it was performed with out the required approvals.”
The 60-year-old Usha concluded by claiming that the transfer by the EC members “is a part of a much wider try and hinder the progress of Indian sports activities and undermine the optimistic developments that we, as a collective, have labored arduous to attain.”
– With PTI inputs