SAG Basketball runs into trouble

This is not the first time that Indian sports bodies have faced a similar situation. In other disciplines too, the world body may recognise one body while the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) would choose another. Basically, the body chosen by IOA will have the Government approval but in international competitions the world body has the last laugh. 

In the wake of a letter reportedly sent by FIBA to the Indian basketball body recognised by it, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Wednesday said it would take serious action against the disputed federation of basketball led by Govindaraj for campaigning against the basketball event of South Asian Games. 

Speaking to DT Next from New Delhi, IOA president N Ramachandran said some individuals are “trying to sabotage the South Asian Games. As far as the IOA is concerned it is a disputed federation in basketball.” 

The IOA has formed an adhoc body after the dispute but the rival faction is not happy about the state of affairs. “I invited both the bodies for a solution but the faction led by Govindaraj has not turned up at all,” clarified Ramachandran. 

During the ongoing sub-junior national championship in Puducherry, the FIBA letter on the issue was released to the media. Patric Baumann, secretary general in a letter dated February 2 to all federations whose national teams are taking part in the South Asian Games basketball competitions, with copy to Sheikh Saud Bin Ali Al-Thani, FIBA Asia President, said due to unacceptable interferences by the Indian Olympic Association into the affairs of the Basketball Federation of India (BFI), FIBA is unable to recognise and endorse the said competitions. He said IOA as well as the state authorities in charge of sports in India had continuously failed to recognise the BFI duly recognized by FIBA despite several letters issued by FIBA to all relevant authorities in India.   

Accordingly, IOA has authorised an ad-hoc committee to select the Indian national teams due to participate in the South-Asian Games. This was in complete violation of FIBA‘s decisions and directions. 

He said the matter was discussed at the last FIBA Asia Board meeting on January 30 and a unanimous decision was taken to condemn the actions by the Indian authorities in charge of sports, which in essence deprive the BFI duly recognized by FIBA the statutory right to select and manage its national teams. 

He urged the concerned federations not to send any of their teams for the competitions, taking into consideration, the seriousness of the issue.