PT Usha responds to allegations of autocratic leadership in Indian Olympic Association
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Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President, PT Usha, has strongly denied accusations from executive council (EC) members that she runs the organization in an "autocratic" manner.
Responding to the claims, Usha said the council members seem more focused on personal power and financial gain than on improving the state of Indian sports.
In an official statement, Usha criticized these members, accusing some of having dubious records, including allegations of gender bias and sexual harassment.
The controversy began when 12 members of the IOA Executive Council wrote to Jerome Poivey, an official from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), claiming Usha’s leadership approach was dictatorial. They objected to her refusal to remove Raghuram Iyer from the position of IOA CEO during a recent council meeting. The council members also expressed their intention to re-advertise for the CEO role, questioning Iyer’s appointment.
Usha, in her response, called the allegations "malicious and false," and said they were intended to undermine her leadership and the collective efforts to advance Indian sports. She defended Iyer’s appointment, asserting it was conducted in strict accordance with the IOA’s constitution.
In a broader critique, Usha accused some council members, including IOA Treasurer Sahdev Yadav and members of the Finance Committee, of mismanaging IOA funds, alleging they secretly wrote off large sums of money owed to the organization. Usha also highlighted other irregularities, including the unauthorized use of IOA’s PAN card by an ad hoc volleyball committee and granting affiliation to a taekwondo federation not recognized by global bodies.
Usha’s letter also addressed a specific case involving Yadav, where she sought clarification over claims of misappropriation of funds related to a Rs 1.75 crore payment made during the 2010 Commonwealth Games to cover a doping fine for the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF).
Despite the controversy, Usha reaffirmed her commitment to transparency, integrity, and the development of Indian sports, standing firm against the accusations from within the IOA. She criticized certain EC members for resisting transparency measures, including their refusal to record council meetings.