Guwahati, Dec. 8: Assam swimmer Elvis Ali Hazarika has splashed into the wrong pool by charging the state’s sports officials of apathy towards sportspersons.

The Swimming Association of Assam (ASA), Assam Olympic Association (AOA) and the state sports department refused to be drawn into any kind of controversy, but senior officials, wishing anonymity, claimed that they have been more sinned against than sinning.

The officials associated with Elvis’ growth as a swimmer at various points of his career, claimed:

nA senior ASA official had handed over Elvis’ application for government stipend when he was ruling the junior circuit to then chief minister Hiteswar Saikia.

nThe stopping of the stipend is a government decision. How can the AOA or ASA be held responsible for this?

nThe ASA had allotted a lane specifically for Elvis to practise at the crowded B.P. Chaliha swimming pool, a facility never extended to any other swimmer.

nOn AOA’s initiative, Elvis was provided with a free furnished accommodation at the Assam House in New Delhi for more than six years to help him train there. Even now the government has not taken away his room.

nWhen plans were on to provide him with a personal coach, Elvis decided to join the CRPF, which was kept secret for a long time.

nHazarika has not been representing Assam for the past seven years. His participation at the national level has been on behalf of the police team.

nMorally it is the responsibility of the CRPF to look after his training, travelling and medical expenses. If he had sought any help the state would have readily agreed.

nWhen he was charged with doping in Kathmandu at the SAF Games, the ASA saw to it that he escaped with a mere warning. There have been reports of his unbecoming conduct at a meet in Malaysia.

nElvis has kept his recent performances a secret. He has not been selected for the world police meet.

Hurt by his unfounded charges in The Telegraph, an official went to the extent of claiming that Elvis was a spent force, no longer interested in swimming.

“If what we have done for him is apathy than we are certainly guilty. His achievements have benefited only him and the CRPF. Despite all that we tried to field him in the Hyderabad National Games. Clearly, this boy has been very ungrateful,” he said.

Elvis, who could not be contacted for his comments, had on Wednesday accused the ASA, AOA and the government of being indifferent to the needs of sportspersons. He had even gone to the extent of saying that he would never ever represent Assam in national meets in protest against the officialdom’s apathy in nurturing talents.

ASA president Utpal Sarma said Elvis, an inspector with the CRPF, was free to air his grievances. “As far as we are concerned we have done everything possible to help him grow as a swimmer because he had it in him to go places,” he said.

The ace swimmer, who represented Assam from 1991 to 1999, has won six golds, four silvers and six bronzes in international meets. He holds the 11-year-old record of being the only Indian to have swum the 100-metre freestyle in less than a minute as a sub-junior at the 1994 nationals in Mumbai.

Elvis had said he will compete for the CRPF and that he had rejected offers to turn out for Karnataka, Maharashtra, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh and the Indian Railways.

“I have always fended for my training and medicines. I was not even considered for a government job,” he had said.