Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra has made public his correspondence with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), reiterating concerns over an apparent inconsistency between the body’s Constitution and the rules governing its Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOM) elections. Bindra said he decided to share his October 31 letter in full after the private communication found its way into the public domain and was referenced in recent media reports.
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In a post accompanying the letter, Bindra clarified that he had written to IOA president PT Usha and chief executive officer Raghuram Iyer before the elections, seeking an explanation over the apparent difference between Article 3.7 of the IOA Constitution and the recently notified SOM election rules. He said he had received an indication of which rules were being followed, but his central constitutional question remained unanswered. Bindra added that neither the Electoral Officer nor the IOA leadership had provided a substantive clarification since.
“My intention was never to question individuals or influence an electoral outcome. It was, and remains, to encourage greater clarity, transparency and confidence in our institutions,” Bindra wrote in the caption.
“I have always believed that the strength of an institution lies not in the absence of questions, but in its willingness to address them,” he added, stressing that the credibility of sporting institutions depended on the fairness and integrity of their processes.
The former shooter said his decision to publish the letter was intended to establish the context of his earlier communication, rather than prolong the dispute or question anyone’s intentions. He had already decided against pursuing a candidature in the electoral process, but maintained that the constitutional issue remained relevant beyond his own participation.
WHAT IS THE SOM RULES CONTROVERSY?
The IOA’s Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit Rules, ratified on September 8, 2026, introduced a framework under which an 80-member roster is prepared by the Electoral Officer using a 10-tier eligibility system. Eight representatives, comprising four men and four women, are then elected to the IOA General Assembly from this roster.
Bindra’s concern centres on how this process aligns with Article 3.7 of the IOA Constitution. He had sought clarification on the apparent inconsistency before the elections but said his specific question was not addressed.
IOA ELECTIONS FACE GROWING SCRUTINY
The issue has resurfaced amid controversy surrounding the November 9 SOM elections. PT Usha finished fifth in the women’s contest, missing out on a place in the General Assembly, while Anju Bobby George, Rani Rampal, Dola Banerjee and Saina Nehwal secured the four positions.
Former sprinter Ashwini Nachappa subsequently alleged that external pressure forced candidates, including herself, to withdraw from the contest. Usha has also raised complaints over alleged campaigning violations and sought an independent examination of the election process from the International Olympic Committee.
The IOA Executive Council elections are scheduled for December 5. Bindra, however, has maintained that his intervention is about institutional accountability and the need for constitutional clarity, rather than the outcome of any individual contest.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
