The Ministry for Youth Affairs and Sports has written to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) asking the body to take responsibility of the athletes if they belong to a National Sports Federation (NSF) which is not recognised by the Government or it has lost its annual recognition.

In the letter written by the Ministry, it is clearly clarified that only recognised NSFs are eligible for financial and other support from the Government. Hence, the Ministry has urged IOA to do the needful so that no athlete suffers.

“Keeping in view the interest of the sports and the sportspersons to ensure that the sportspersons are given timely, adequate and fair opportunities of participation in international events, it has been decided that following arrangement will be followed in respect of Olympic / Asian / Commonwealth sports disciplines, where the recognition of the concerned NSF is withdrawn or the annual recognition is not renewed, or the NSF is under suspension,” states the letter.

“IOA may take the responsibility for the selection of athletes, the conduct of coaching camps for participation in international competitions and submission of entries of Indian teams and sportspersons to the concerned international federation, while observing the requisite yardsticks and by way of arrangement/mechanism appropriate for the particular sports discipline,” it added.

Further in its letter, the Ministry said: “IOA would bring out the proposals of ACTC pertaining to mandatory competitions and national coaching camps in consultation with Sports Authority of India (SAI), which will be approved by the Ministry. SAI will provide all necessary technical support and financial assistance as per approved norms under the Scheme of Assistance to NSFs.”

“The above arrangement will cease to be in effect as and when the concerned NSF gets the Government recognition,” it added.