Sports ministry may de-recognise the Swimming Federation of India

In a fresh salvo at national sports federations, the union sports ministry has threatened to de-recognise the Swimming Federation of India (SFI) for not conducting its elections according to government’s guidelines.

The ministry has asked them to amend its constitution in 90 days and hold fresh elections in fair, democratic and transparent manner.

In a letter sent to SFI’s secretary general, the sports ministry cited several shortcomings in the holding of its elections earlier this year in June. During the elections, Virendra Nanavati was elected as its secretary general for the sixth successive time, openly flouting government’s new guidelines.

The government’s new guidelines that were notified May 1 earlier this year said that secretary general and the treasurer of any recognised national sport federations may serve a maximum of two successive terms of four years each, after which a minimum cooling off period of four years would apply to seek fresh election to either post. It had also said that on attaining 70 years of age, the president, secretary and treasurer of the sports associations would cease to hold office.