KUALA LUMPUR: Badminton’s governing body announced on Thursday it had suspended the Sri Lankan Badminton Association (SLBA) for not adhering to governance standards and questions over its autonomy.

The suspension means Sri Lankan shuttlers will not be able to take part in any Badminton World Federation (BWF) sanctioned competition, it said in a short statement.

“The SLBA Constitution does not meet the criteria for ongoing membership,” BWF said, adding that the Sri Lankan body’s autonomy has been compromised “through the application of government sports regulations”.

The suspension comes after 18 months of talks with Sri Lankan badminton officials over the way the association is run and after reviewing its constitution, the federation, which is based in Kuala Lumpur, added.

The SLBA has been mired in controversy with corruption allegations and leadership tussles tarnishing its image.

It also faced criticism recently over its failure to hold an annual general meeting within a stipulated deadline.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2015

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