IOA chief PT Usha issues notice to treasurer following complaint of sports code violation

NEW DELHI: President of the Indian Olympic Association PT Usha has issued a show cause notice to treasurer Sahdev Yadav. The action follows a complaint alleging that Yadav's election violates the National Sports Code of India.

In a letter dated September 10, Usha requested Yadav to respond 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.

The complainant cites a High Court ruling questioning Yadav's eligibility due to violations of the age and tenure caps established by the sports code.

The rules mandate officials must step down after serving 12 consecutive years. Yadav has been a board member of the Indian Weightlifting Federation for 15 years.

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

Other IOA members facing similar allegations include Ajay Patel of the National Rifle Association, Bhupinder Singh Bajwa of the Wushu Federation, and Rajlakshmi Singh Deo of the Rowing Federation.

The complaint demands their immediate removal from the IOA Executive Committee.

The development is part of an ongoing conflict within the IOA.

Usha has accused the Executive Council (EC) members of sidelining her.

Earlier this year, the EC declared Raghuram Iyer's appointment as IOA CEO null and void and terminated Ajay Narang from his position as Usha's executive assistant.

Usha rejected Narang's termination as "absolute nullity."