Ministry unlikely to implement 2017 Sports Code

Vinayak Padmadeo

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 19

The Sports Ministry is likely to junk the 2017 Sports Code as officials feel it does not distinguish between performers and non-performers.

The draft of the National Code for Good Governance in Sports (2017), among other things, bars politicians and bureaucrats from becoming officebearers in any of the sports federations. It also calls for the appointment of chief executive officers to run various federations in a professional manner.

The 2017 draft has also included points from the National Sports Development Code (2011), which disqualifies administrators from taking office after attaining the age of 70, and those who have served a jail sentence of two years or more.

The Tribune has learnt that now, the Sports Ministry is mulling the idea to not implement the 2017 Sports Code as officials feel that the latest draft does not meet the objectives of the national sports policy. They are of the opinion that some of the clauses only deal with the working of the sports federations and the real issue of development of sports hasn’t really been seriously touched upon.

They also feel that a few of the clauses are in conflict with India’s international commitments. Above all, they feel the draft code gives a one-size-fits-all solution, which simply cannot be implemented in all the federations. Also, there is a feeling that the draft does not distinguish between performers and non-performers.

Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju had already expressed his displeasure with the clause that bars politicians and bureaucrats from contesting elections. “We cannot single out any profession with regards to governance of sport. It is wrong to say businessmen, politicians or officers cannot be a part... Then who will govern?” he had said. “It is not about the profession of the person. It is about how suitable one is to run a sports federation. I want a Sports Code which is universally acceptable.”

The government in consultation with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) then had decided to form a committee to look into the draft. A 13-member committee headed by Justice (retd) Mukundan Sharma was constituted to look into the draft. The committee included Gagan Narang, Bhaichung Bhutia and Anju Bobby George.

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