Who knows Vijay Goel in Rio? asks enraged Dhanraj Pillay

New Delhi: Former India hockey captain Dhanraj Pillay hit out at Vijay Goel after learning that the Union Sports Minister has been pulled-up by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for flouting rules at Rio Olympics 2016.

"Who knows Vijay Goel in Rio. In India people may give him importance, but it isn't going to happen at the Olympics," Pillay told NDTV.

India's sports minister drew widespread criticism on Friday after the organisers of the Rio Olympics reportedly accused his entourage of "aggressive and rude" behaviour at the Games and threatened to cancel his accreditation.

"Why is there a need for 40 officials to go for the Olympic Games. Just one minister should be enough to oversee things and boost the morale of our athletes", Dhanraj added.

The Rio organising committee said it had received multiple reports of Vijay Goel trying to get unaccredited people accompanying him into Olympic venues.