The drama at the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) got much more intense as treasurer Sahdev Yadav threatened legal action against President PT Usha for ‘defaming’ his image.
The whole threat comes after PT Usha issued a show cause notice to him based on a complaint challenging his eligibility to hold the post.
On September 10, Usha sought an explanation from Yadav, who is also currently the president of the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF), following an anonymous complaint alleging that he and some other IOA officials are continuing in office in violation of the age and tenure guidelines set by the National Sports Code.
As per the Sports Code, an official must step aside after 12 consecutive years in office. Yadav has also been a former secretary of the Indian Weightlifting Federation and has been on its board for 15 years.
“Unfortunately, you have given value to such baseless and politically motivated letter fully knowing that the election of the executive council of IOA was held under the supervision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in 2022,” Yadav said in a strongly-worded reply to Usha in a letter dated September 23.
“I request you to withdraw your notice sent to many office bearers and EC members including me … failing which I shall be construed (constrained) to take all legal recourse for defaming my image in public at large through social media and also before the sports ministry and the IOC.”
Usha’s letter to Yadav was also sent to the sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya and the International Olympic Committee.
Yadav claimed that Usha’s letter to him was leaked to the media and public before reaching him.
The latest development added fuel to the ongoing factional feud within the IOA.
PT Usha and the executive council members have been at loggerheads since the start of the year with Usha believing that EC is trying to sideline her.
This was after most EC members claimed that they had signed a suspension order declaring Raghuram Iyer’s appointment as IOA CEO in January null and void.
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