Athletics: India orders fresh polls in athletics body

Sports ministry set aside the election of president, secretary and treasurer in the AFI held in April this year.

NEW DEHLI: India’s sports ministry yesterday asked the country’s athletics federation to hold fresh elections or face suspension, in the latest crackdown to clean up sports administration. The ministry set aside the election of president, secretary and treasurer in the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) held in April this year and ordered polls to be held within 60 days or by February 28. According to the ministry, the clause in the athletics federation’s constitution that only a member of its executive committee could seek election as an office-bearer was ‘restrictive and violated the government’s sports code’. “The AFI has been directed to amend its constitution and hold elections to the above three posts,” said the ministry in a statement. “If the above action is not carried out within the period of 60 days, or 28 February 2013, the recognition to AFI shall stand withdrawn without any further notice.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 12^th, 2012.