April 29, 2008	Tuesday	Rabi-us-Sani 22, 1429

NEW DELHI, April 28: India’s Olympic Association (IOA) suspended the national hockey federation on Monday after a television show accused the federation’s secretary of corruption.

The IOA’s executive council made its move after the nation was rocked by a show which last week alleged that hockey secretary K. Jothikumaran had accepted money from undercover reporters to select a particular player.

Jothikumaran denied any wrongdoing and said he would “keep away” till an inquiry committee appointed by the federation completed its findings.

“The IOA has full authority to take disciplinary action against any federation if it indulges in activities that can bring disrepute to the nation and the sport,” IOA president Suresh Kalmadi told a news conference in Delhi.

“On that ground, the IOA executive council passed a resolution to suspend the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) and appoint an ad hoc committee to run the affairs till the issues are resolved.”

The IOA came under pressure to act after the sports minister called for hockey chiefs to quit and the International Hockey Federation (FIH) demanded better management of the country’s national sport.

The FIH has also warned it would take the 2010 World Cup away from India if the administration was not toned up quickly to both organise the event and revive the game.

“It is a very painful decision because the IOA is committed to the autonomy of all federations,” Kalmadi said.

Senior hockey official KPS Gill’s 15-year tenure as the hockey boss came to an unceromonius end with the Indian Olympic Association on Monday removing him by suspending the IHF and appointing an ad-hoc committee, headed by former Olympian Aslam Sher Khan.

The ad-hoc committee will have hockey greats such as Ashok Kumar, Dhanraj Pillay, Ajit Pal Singh and Zafar Iqbal as the other members. “It is a painful decision that we made today. But it had to be taken since there were corruption allegations.

“We have taken the decision after discussions with former Olympians, captains and all those who have played for India,” IOA President Suresh Kalmadi told a packed press conference.—Agencies