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regular-article-logo Tuesday, 15 October 2024

P. T. Usha sends show-cause notice to treasurer of Indian Olympic Association

Sahdev Yadav, the present IOA treasurer and the man who controlled the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF) for ages, is served with a notice for 'filing and furnishing false information with the IOA, misappropriation and writing off public money belonging to the IOA for the benefit of IWLF and its office bearers'

Angshuman Roy Calcutta Published 15.09.24, 10:51 AM
Indian Olympic Association president PT Usha earlier this month.

Indian Olympic Association president PT Usha earlier this month. PTI

The Olympic Games and the Paralympics are done and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) is back to what it knows best — internal squabbles and bickering.

The latest episode in it has its president and legendary athlete PT Usha sending show-cause notices to the association’s top officials.

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Sahdev Yadav, the present IOA treasurer and the man who controlled the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF) for ages, is served with a notice for “filing and furnishing false information with the IOA, misappropriation and writing off public money belonging to the IOA for the benefit of IWLF and its office bearers.”

In a previous letter sent by Usha, Yadav was notified about a complaint that his election as treasurer of the IOA violates the country’s National Sports Code.

The bone of contention is the Rs 1.75 crore which the IWLF took as a loan from the IOA to pay a fine imposed by the international weightlifting body before the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games. Yadav has been calling the shots in the IWLF since 2009 and was an important member of the IOA too. Now the ongoing Comptroller and Auditor General audit has revealed that the loan money is yet to be repaid.

“During the ongoing CAG audit, it has come to my attention that the said information has been concealed from me deliberately so that such huge amounts can be clandestinely written off benefiting yourself and the IWLF. Since you have been holding positions in IWLF and IOA since 2009, it is a clear breach of your fiduciary duty that you owe to the IOA.

The monies that is (sic) owed by IWLF should be used for the benefit of the athletes and not for paying doping sanction imposed on IWLF,” the notice, dated September 10, stated.

An official privy to the recent developments said Usha is serious about cleaning up the prevalent mess in the IOA. “It has to start from somewhere... Putting the house in order. We cannot afford another flop show in Los Angeles in four years time,” the official told The Telegraph on Saturday. It is learnt that a few other officials are also under the president’s radar.

Usha has been at loggerheads with the body’s Executive Council members for months, stating that they were trying to sideline her with their acts of defiance. Yadav is an important member of the anti-Usha camp.

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