IOA cries foul of Sports Ministry

New Delhi: The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Sunday said four officials and support staff cleared by the sports ministry on its own cost for the Asian Games cannot be part of the contingent as it has not recommended them for the multi-sporting event starting 18 August.

The IOA on shot off a letter to the sports ministry, asking how these four officials and support staff were included in the contingent without being recommended by it. They are not even accredited for the Games, the national Olympic body said.

The four are SC Roy (coach) and Ruma Kar (masseur) from archery, Manoj Rana (coach) from gymnastics and A Jayarajan from swimming. Jayarajan's capacity in the gymnastics team was not mentioned in the contingent list approved by the Ministry.

"We have not sent the names of these four officials to the ministry and we do not know how come there names cropped up in the contingent list approved by the ministry," IOA Secretary General Rajeev Mehta told PTI.

"Since their names do not feature even in the long list, there is no accreditation for them and hence they cannot be a part of the contingent. So, we have written a letter to the ministry how it has happened," he added.