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The latest visit of IOC President Thomas Bach highlighted India’s interest in hosting the grandest sporting events of them all, the Summer Olympics. However, hosting the event is a massive financial burden on an economy, especially a developing one.Countries such as Greece, who went on to spend close $ 32 billion faced a financial wrath of sorts as their economy collapsed. They are yet to recover from the setback.An aspect that is unique to the Indian sporting landscape is that of corruption. Several sports in the country have failed to grow because of practices, which saw money flowing towards the wrong direction.Here are five of the biggest corruption scandals that rocked sports in India.
#1 Commonwealth Games scam
A total of 53 corruption cases were levied of Chief Games organiser, Suresh Kalmadi. Not only was it investigated by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), but also the Directorate General of Income Tax Investigation and Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).
Out of the 53, 28 of the cases are still under investigation. However, on April 25 2011, Kalmadi was arrested in the Timing-Scoring-Result (TRS) case, under section 120 (Criminal Conspiracy) and 420 (Cheating) of the Indian Penal Code.
The chargesheet drafted by the CBI stated that he was the main accused in awarding the scoring system deal to a Swiss firm. It stated, “Kalmadi is the main accused as he was the person with all supreme powers. He had the supreme over-riding powers in the Organising Committee of the CWG, 2010."
General Secretary Lalit Bhanot and Director General V K Verma were also arrested. The scam also came at a time when the world’s eye was on India and it only adhered to the Indian corruption stereotype.
#2 Derecognisation of Paralympic Committee
The latest sporting controversy in India has been the derecognisation of the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI), this means that the Indian flag will not be hoisted at international events.
It all started, after the media coverage of the poor facilities provided by the association at the National meet in Ghaziabad, resulted in the sacking of President Rajesh Tomar. Post that three member enquiry panel was setup to look into the matter.
The panel found blatant corruption in every echelon of the association, along with unaccountability of finances. Instead of coming to a common ground to solve the issue, it was decided that the Committee would be dissolved.
Now close to 600 athletes don’t have any route to reach international events. These include Paralympians, Asian Para Games winners, along with National level sportspersons.
Derecognisation has come from both the International Committee and the Indian Sports Ministry.
#3 Ban on Indian Boxing Federation (IBF), now Boxing India
Boxing as a sport has brought several laurels to India, even winning an Olympic medal in the form of Vijender Singh. In 2012, the sport was brought to shame in India, after the Indian Boxing Federation was banned by the International Boxing Association (AIBA).
According to the AIBA constitution, it is mandatory for National Association to host elections in a democratic manner. However, the IBF was said to have ‘manipulated’ it’s constitution to re-elect Abhay Singh Chautala.
This also meant that the election would go unopposed to clear the path for Chautala to be re-elected unanimously.
The IBF would be banned till 2014, until the recreation of Boxing India.
#4 IOC derecognition during 2014 Sochi Olympics
The worst thing for an athlete can be to represent only yourself at the Olympics and that fate fell upon four Indian winter athletes. Luger Shiva Keshavan had to carry the Olympic flag instead of the Indian one during the opening ceremony.
This was done because the Indian Olympic Association refused to prepone their election, under the democratic reforms of the IOC. Failure to meet the IOC constitution saw them getting banned for a close to four months and also put their international representation in jeopardy!
They were again reinstated during the Winter Olympics.
#5 IPL Spot fixing scandal
Even the religion in India, cricket was not spared from corrupt practices as members from the Indian cricketing community were found to be a part of the spot fixing case. Three Indian cricketers, S Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan were found guilty of fixing.
Apart from the trio, Chennai Super Kings owner Gurunath Meiyappan was also found guilty. However, the shocking part was when the Indian Supreme Court asked BCCI President N Srinivasan to step down from his post as he was part owner of CSK.
The Mudgal Committee, which was setup to oversee the case, also asked the BCCI to keep their finances public for transparency. But, that particular step is yet to be taken. +
