The International Golf Federation (IGF) on Wednesday stood squarely behind the faction in the Indian Golf Union headed by Brijender Singh as president, while criticising the Indian Olympic Association for “interfering” in the elections of the Indian Golf Union.
IGF executive director Antony Scanlon, in a letter to IOA president PT Usha on Tuesday, extended recognition to IGU headed by Brijender Singh, and asked her to provide affiliation to the body as per the rules of the Olympic charter.
While criticising IOA for “actively undermining” the IGU electoral process and facilitating a faction holding “non-constitutional and invalid alternate Annual General Meeting and elections at its premises,” IGF said it has reported the matter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The IGU elections came under scanner with two rival factions of the body conducting separate polls at different venues in New Delhi on December 15. Singh was elected president for a second consecutive term in the polls held at the India Habitat Centre while the rival faction elected Harish Kumar Shetty as president.
The IOA and Sports Ministry have recognised different sets of office-bearers. While the Union Sports Ministry has backed Singh’s election, subject to the ongoing court case in the matter, the IOA has recognized the Shetty faction.
Scanlon noted in his letter that the IGF have found no reason to question the legitimacy of the IGU AGM and election held at India Habitat Centre, and that they were held in accordance with their constitution and the procedures of the National Sports Development Code of India, 2011. “As such, we recognise and fully support the office bearers announced by the Returning Officer HJ Rameshwar Singh Malik and ratified by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.”
“We contend that neither the IOA nor you as president of the IOA has any jurisdiction over the IGU annual general meeting nor its electoral process,” Scanlon further wrote.
The letter continues: “We find it extraordinary that the IOA would actively undermine the IGU electoral process and facilitate a faction holding a non-constitutional and invalid alternate Annual General Meeting and elections at the premises of the IOA.
“As such to recognise another executive body, not affiliated to the IGF, is in direct contravention of the Olympic Charter. We strongly implore you to immediately rectify this matter.
“It is regrettable that your actions serve to punish the athletes for political purposes and in direct conflict with Article 27.2.2 of the Olympic Charter whereby the role of an NOC is to encourage the development of high performance sport.
“The IGF implores you to reconsider this decision and to place the athletes’ interests above those of personal and political interests.”
