KPS Gill ousted; IOA suspends Indian Hockey Federation

Zeenews Bureau

New Delhi, April 28: The Indian Olympic Association on Monday suspended the KPS Gill-led Indian Hockey Federation and appointed a five member ad-hoc panel for future team selection. IOA`s decision comes after a sting operation by a news channel exposed corruption in the Indian Hockey Federation.The ad-hoc panel will be headed by Aslam Sher Khan. Dhanraj Pillay, Ashok Kumar and Ajit Pal will be its other members. Ric Charlesworth will be the advisor of the selection committee. "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 here. "Gill was there (meeting) throughout. It was a unanimous decision and no one spoke against it. We have great respect for KPS Gill and it is not personal. "Jothikumaran did not come unfortunately, we wanted to hear him. It was an opportunity for him to present his case," he said. The IOA chief acknowledged that the national apex body had to take heed to the stern warning of the FIH which had threatened to scrap the `Promoting Indian Hockey Project` and the 2010 World Cup proposed to be held here if immediate corrective action was not taken in the aftermath of the sting operation. "It was a one time decision and involved complex issues. We had to take into account the views of FIH, the media (criticism), the wishes of former Olympians and the concerns of the parliamentarians," he said. "The FIH has said that we would lose the 2010 World Cup if we do not act now. It was also IOA`s desire to act so that the national game rises to greater heights," he said. Kalmadi said he would appoint the ad-hoc committee "in a couple of days" and would even consult KPS Gill in the exercise, besides taking into account the former Olympians. "There is no hurry in the appointment of the ad-hoc committee. We will consult all the stakeholders -- (FIH representative) Davidzon and former Olympians. We will also consult KPS Gill," he said. Asked for how long the ad-hoc arrangement will continue, Kalmadi would not commit anything but said he was looking forward to seeing india getting gold in the 2010 Commonwealth Games. "We have taken a concrete decision though it was a painful one. We have a great responsibility now to run the IHF. The sports minister has given hockey a priority sport and I hope the fortunes of the game in this country will rise again. We want to win gold in the Delhi commonwealth games." Kalmadi also asked the national sports federations to submit their financial accounts at the earliest. "We want transparency and accountability in all the NSFS and I have asked all of them to submit their accounts as soon as possible". Kalmadi also promised that the IOA would do everything to hold the 2010 World Cup in New Delhi. "The IOA was one of the guarantors of the World Cup. We will do our best to ensure that the mega event is held in the country," he said. Gill had come under intense pressure to resign after the sting operation with the sports minister M S Gill, members of parliament and several former hockey players demanding his ouster to save Indian hockey. The clamour for Gill`s head started in March this year when India failed to qualify for Olympics games for the first time in 80 years, losing to Great Britain in the world Olympic qualifying tournament in Santiago, Chile. But the defiant hockey supremo refused to quit despite the team`s fortunes plunging to new lows during his tenure. Earlier on Sunday, expressing dismay at the state of Indian hockey, FIH chief Els van Breda Vriesman said the world body can`t work with a federation whose top official was under investigation following a TV sting operation. "It (the sting operation) is never heard of in the world of field hockey. I wish the Indian hockey gets positive publicity and not this kind. We are in touch with both International Olympic committee and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) how to proceed in such situation," she said. "Now the IOA has to manage Indian Hockey Confederation because I don`t think we can work with a half-suspended Secretary General (K Jothikumaran) and a president probably linked because he protects his secretary in this case," she added.