Prithviraj not good enough to officiate rally but good enough to head FMSCI!

New Delhi, November 19

National motorsport federation FMSCI has banned its own president, J Prithviraj, from officiating for three years in the wake of the organisational blunder that led to death of three persons, including a minor, during the ill-fated Rally of Jodhpur in September.

While Prithviraj will continue to be the president of FMSCI, he won’t be allowed to officiate in the national championships for three years. Top rally driver Gaurav Gill had crashed into a trespassing motorcycle carrying three people, including a minor, during the rally, forcing the organisers to call off the rally.

Gill was granted bail last month in connection with the case. The five-member FMSCI panel that included past presidents Vicky Chandhok and Akbar Ebrahim recommended a three-year ban on Prithviraj, the event’s clerk of the course (COC). Prithviraj, who is part of the Coimbatore Auto Sports Club, was assisting rally organisers Maxperience.

Unanimous ‘embarrassment’

“The panel’s recommendation is to impose a ban on the COC of the event from officiating as a COC of any National Championship events for a period of three years and must officiate as DCOC (deputy COC) for one year after 3 years,” read an official FMSCI note.

The inquiry panel’s recommendations were passed unanimously by the 10-member council. Prithviraj recused himself from the meeting. The inquiry panel was headed by council member Farokh Commissariat.

When reached for his comment, the FMSCI president said he has no knowledge of the ban imposed on him. “I have received no communication yet (on the ban),” Prithviraj said. The three-year suspension for the FMSCI president is nothing short of an embarrassment for the sport’s governing body.

“It is a clear case of conflict of interest. How can you be the president and a race official at the same time?” a source in the organisation wondered.

The FMSCI has also banned event organisers Maxperience and their representative Arvind Balan for three years till December 31, 2022. A Rs 5 lakh penalty has also been imposed on Prithviraj’s Coimbatore Auto Sports Club, which will also not be allowed to organise a National Championship outside the city until December 31, 2022. — PTI