Usha, in a media interaction on Tuesday, spoke on a range of contentious issues. (FILE photo)
The ongoing administrative logjam owing to the infighting at the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) might have stalled the country’s bid for the 2036 Olympic but the organisation’s president, PT Usha, asserted the current situation would not affect the “Prime Minister’s vision” to host the Games.
Usha, in a media interaction on Tuesday, spoke on a range of contentious issues — from the bid to the CAG report that has alleged a potential Rs 24 crore loss for the IOA and the tug of war over the appointment of the CEO. She claimed the talks with the International Olympic Committee’s future host commission is on track.
“We spoke to the host committee just yesterday (Monday) and the CEO connected from Mumbai. So the talks are on. This situation won’t affect the bid. Obviously, the infighting cannot continue without a solution. There will be an end to this situation soon,” Usha said.
The athletics legend has had a rocky start to her administrative stint as the president of the IOA with Executive Committee members calling publicly questioning her way of functioning, terming it ‘autocratic’.
The current quagmire is over the appointment of IOA’s CEO Raghuram Iyer. In January, the seasoned sports administrator was named chief executive after being recommended by IOA’s Nomination Committee comprising Usha, former world champion boxer MC Mary Kom and IOC member Nita Ambani. However, the IOA’s Executive Council is yet to ratify the appointment, citing Usha’s ‘arbitrary’ decision-making and a ‘high salary package’, amounting to approximately Rs 3 crore.
Usha said the appointing of a CEO was necessary to clear the previous mess in the association and also bid for the Games. Usha claimed a lot of senior executive members were averse to the idea of appointing CEO from day one. “At the IOC session, the PM asked why I wasn’t appointing a CEO. And then the sports minister kept on enquiring. I told them that I tried my best but nobody wants it,” she said.
Usha also claimed that she was often insulted by executive members during meetings and would manipulate the minutes of the meeting to suit their agenda. “A few times they made video recordings without my permission and edited in such a way that would tarnish my image. They show these videos to people and say that I am autocratic.”
The latest hurdle that Usha is facing is the CAG report that has alleged that a deal with Reliance India Limited resulted in a loss of Rs 24 crore to the organisation.
Usha brushed off the allegations and called it an attempt to “tarnish” her image. The IOA president also issued a detailed press release on the matter.
“Dr. Usha strongly refuted the claims made by Mr. Sahdev Yadav (EC member) in the CAG report, alleging that she acted without the knowledge of the IOA Executive Council. These claims, according to her, are part of a deliberate attempt to tarnish her reputation and discredit the IOA,” the release said.
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