After SAI, Randhir resigns from NDTL

IOA Secretary General Randhir Singh resigned from the Governing Body of the National Dope Testing Laboratory after the Sports Ministry had not invited him for the National Sports Award ceremony.

New Delhi: A day after parting ways with the Sports Authority of India, IOA Secretary General Randhir Singh today resigned from the Governing Body of the National Dope Testing Laboratory after the Sports Ministry had not invited him for the National Sports Award ceremony here on Sunday.

"I hereby tender my resignation from the Governing Body of the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) with immediate effect," Randhir wrote in a letter addressed to Sports Minister M S Gill. "I am resigning from the doping body also. I have got a notice today saying there will be a meeting of the NDTL the day after and my name has been included in the list. But I have decided to resign and will not reconsider my decision," he told a press conference here. Disappointed with the Sports Ministry`s behaviour, Randhir, who is also the Secretary General of the Olympic Council of Asia, had yesterday resigned from the Governing Body of SAI.Randhir said he was deeply hurt by the Sports Ministry`s attitude towards him and as a former sportsperson he deserved love and respect from the government. "As a former sportsperson, I wanted some respect from the government but it has failed to show any respect to me. I don`t have any vested interest in serving sports nor I am heading any national federation," he said. "I have got a letter from Joint Secretary (Sports Ministry) Injeti Srinivas, saying the mistake was `unintentional`. The Awards function is the only big thing the government organises annually and if you can`t show this much love and affection to former players by inviting them then I don`t want to remain there," added Randhir, who is also the International Olympic Committee member from the country.The Arjuna awardee, however, said his decision had nothing to do with the infighting between the Sports Ministry and IOA over the tenure and age limitation guidelines. "I have not taken this decision because of an infighting between Ministry and the IOA. It`s not shadow boxing but a fully personal decision. I will continue with the OC post and also as a member of the IOA," he said. PTI