OCA suspends government-backed POA

Accuses body of ‘destablising’ Olympic movement in Pakistan.

KARACHI: The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has suspended government-backed Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) President Akram Sahi and two other officials for running a parallel Olympic movement which has become a threat for Pakistan. 

The letter from OCA President Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah addressed to Sahi, Zafar Abbas Lak and Ghulam Ali read that the formation of a parallel National Olympic Committee had destabilised the Olympic movement in Pakistan.

It further stated: “In view of your consistent effort to destabilise the Olympic movement in Pakistan, it leaves us with no choice but to bar you from participating in any activity under the jurisdiction of the OCA. You are therefore suspended till further notice.”

Meanwhile, Sahi claimed that he was not worried about the suspension. “The OCA suspension doesn’t worry us because one can only suspend someone when there is an affiliation with that organisation,” Sahi told The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 11^th, 2013.

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