The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has been embroiled in a bitter internal feud, with President PT Usha and most of the executive council (EC) members engaged in a public showdown. The turmoil has escalated to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which has urged the IOA to address its governance issues.
Usha has accused the EC members of non-cooperation, claiming that they have blocked funds for athlete preparation and prevented the organization of a felicitation ceremony for Paris Olympics medalists. However, IOA treasurer Sahdev Yadav has vehemently denied these allegations, calling them “blatant lies.”
Yadav asserts that Usha has not consulted with EC members or made any official proposals for the felicitation ceremony. He also claims that all proposals approved by the EC and finance committee have been paid promptly.
The conflict intensified after the EC refused to ratify Raghu Iyer’s appointment as CEO. Usha claims that Iyer’s appointment was approved in a January 2024 meeting, but the EC members dispute this, stating that they have rejected his nomination.
The EC has circulated a separate meeting minutes, assigning the CEO’s duties to joint secretary Kalyan Chaubey. Usha has dismissed these minutes as invalid, accusing the EC of resisting Iyer’s appointment since their tenure began in December 2022.
The IOC has expressed concern over the ongoing infighting and has asked the IOA to resolve its internal issues. The organization has sent a special invitee to EC meetings to monitor the situation.
The feud has cast a shadow over the IOA’s preparations for the Paris Olympics. Athletes and officials have expressed concern that the internal turmoil could affect India’s performance at the Games.
