‘Courts are liable for destruction of sports activities in India’: Former Indian athletics chief Adille Sumariwalla

If former Indian athletics chief Adille Sumariwalla is to be believed, then courts are liable for destruction of sports activities within the nation. Sumariwalla, whose 12-year run as Athletics Federation of India (AFI) president got here to an finish earlier this month, added {that a} Sports activities Invoice which has arbitration clause in it must be launched in a month for a number of sports activities federations within the nation to outlive.

“œYou want (sports activities) governance, sure. However the governance ought to be transferring within the route of improvement of sports activities, not simply policing. Whether it is simply policing, then you’ve gotten an issue,” former sprinter Sumariwalla mentioned on the Worldwide Olympics Analysis Convention organised on the Rashtriya Raksha College (RRU) in Gandhinagar.

“A working example is the brand new structure of the Indian Olympic Affiliation. It’s a catastrophe, it’s an absolute catastrophe, as a result of it kills all the things sports activities stands for. So who interfered in it — the courts.

“œIn the present day, in India courts have completely overreached and courts are liable for destruction of sports activities in India, as a result of they preserve giving orders which they don’t perceive, I shall be very cautious in order that I’m not in contempt of courtroom,” he added whereas taking part in a panel dialogue with Commonwealth Video games Federation chief Chris Jenkins and CEO Katie Sadlier.

Sumariwalla served as AFI president for 12 years from 2012, the utmost tenure allowed below the present Sports activities Code. He was succeeded by Bahadur Singh Sagoo to the highest put up earlier this month. He’s at the moment a
vice-president of World Athletics, the worldwide observe and area governing physique.

The Draft Sports activities Invoice 2024 contains an arbitration clause that may require athletes and sports activities officers to resolve disputes by way of an Appellate Sports activities Tribunal as a substitute of the courts. The tribunal can be modelled after the Courtroom of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Dr. Chris Jenkins, President of the Commonwealth Video games Federation, and Mr. Adille Sumariwalla, President of the Athletics Federation of India, met Hon’ble CM Shri @Bhupendrapbjp and MoS Shri @sanghaviharsh throughout their go to to Gujarat.++ pic.twitter.com/r4HkVvjjiW

— Sports activities Authority of Gujarat (@sagofficialpage) January 30, 2025

The Draft Invoice is more likely to be launched within the Parliament in the course of the upcoming Price range Session.

“œI’m supplying you with an instance, in kabaddi, they’d a dispute, two events went to courtroom, and the courtroom appointed an administrator. For the final seven years, the administrator, who’s a retired choose, refuses to depart his put up, even after elections are held, giving some authorized purpose,” Sumariwalla claimed with out taking any names.

“Why as a result of, he’s being paid Rs 5 lakh a month, he has a automotive, he has an assistant, he’s a retired choose, he didn’t receives a commission Rs 5 lakh as choose, so why would he go away.

“œSo there are seven nationwide (sports activities) associations in India which have directors. There’s a judgment of Delhi Excessive Courtroom, the choose who gave the judgment now desires to develop into an administrator, how unhealthy is that,” he alleged.

Sumariwalla mentioned a correct authorized system to take care of these points is required.

“You want a panel of arbitration of sports activities, one thing like a CAS (Courtroom of Arbitration of Sports activities), who understands the sports activities and who don’t wish to intrude,” he mentioned.

“œThere’s a lawyer, who retains filling PILs in courts on sports activities points exhibiting he’s the protector of sports activities. Just lately in one of many circumstances that he took up, the choose requested him if his federation is compliant with the Sports activities Code, and he mentioned no. He retains shouting from rooftops in regards to the Sports activities Code and the way all federations ought to be disbanded.

“œSo we have now to cease this, by bringing within the Invoice which can have arbitration inside the purview of the Sports activities Invoice. And if this Invoice doesn’t come within the subsequent month or so, most federations will stop to exist, as a result of the courtroom order is so unhealthy that no federation ought to have the ability to work, so that is destruction of sports activities by courts,” he alleged.

With PTI inputs