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The Indian Olympic Association ratified CEO Raghuram Iyer’s appointment and formed an anti-doping panel chaired by Rohit Rajpal after IOC concerns over India’s doping record.
Member of the IOA including PT Usha (X)
In a significant step forward, the Indian Olympic Association’s (IOA) Executive Council officially ratified the appointment of CEO Raghuram Iyer on Thursday and announced the formation of an anti-doping panel.
The move comes after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) raised concerns over India’s doping record during a recent visit by the IOA delegation to Lausanne, aimed at bolstering the country’s bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games.
Iyer’s appointment, originally made by IOA President P.T. Usha in January 2024, had been stalled due to opposition within the council. The primary objection was his monthly salary of ₹20 lakh along with additional benefits. However, following the intervention of Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, the disagreement was resolved, allowing Iyer to be formally appointed.
The newly established anti-doping committee will consist of seven members and be chaired by former Davis Cup player Rohit Rajpal. Other members include former badminton player Aparna Popat and sports medicine expert Dr. P.S.M. Chandran, among others.
“The IOC mentioned high doping cases in India when the IOA delegation visited Lausanne,” said Iyer at a joint press conference held alongside IOA Executive Council members and Usha.
The IOA delegation to the IOC headquarters included Sports Secretary Hari Ranjan Rao, Usha, and Gujarat Sports Minister Harsh Sanghavi. India has proposed Ahmedabad as the host city for the 2036 Olympic Games.
India recently topped the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) 2023 testing data among countries that analyzed more than 5,000 samples. The country registered a 3.8% positivity rate for banned substances—a statistic that has drawn global scrutiny.
Sports Bill Welcomed
After previously expressing reservations, the IOA has now welcomed the newly introduced National Sports Bill, which was tabled in Parliament on Wednesday.
“The IOC was concerned about two or three key issues, but the ministry consulted with the world body and other international federations before finalizing the bill,” Usha said during the press conference.
Once enacted, the legislation will establish a National Sports Board, which will have the authority to recognize national sports federations and regulate their funding.
“People should not view the National Sports Bill as interference by the Sports Ministry, but rather as a step toward cooperation and coordination among stakeholders, including the IOA and National Sports Federations (NSFs),” said IOA Joint Secretary Kalyan Chaubey.
“The new bill clearly states that in case of any conflict with the statutes of international federations, the latter’s rules will take precedence,” added Chaubey, who also serves as president of the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
(with PTI inputs)
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term…Read More
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term… Read More
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