Indian Olympic Association General Secretary Randhir Singh on Monday said Hockey Punjab cannot be denied affiliation as the IOA constitution makes it mandatory to recognise a state association approved by the state's Olympic association.
Randhir also said IOA believed in "total transparency" and anyone feeling otherwise should contact the IOA secretariat.
"IOA has no interest in indulging in any kind of politics. We believe in total transparency. We function according to the charter of Olympic movement which clearly says that a state association should be affiliated by its national federation if it is approved by the respective Olympic association," he told PTI.
"If the Punjab association is approved by its state Olympic association they will get the affiliation," he said.
Hockey Punjab Chief Sukhbir Singh Badal has accused the IOA and its president Suresh Kalmadi of hatching a conspiracy against the state by debarring them from Hockey India's January 29 elections.
Randhir rejected the accusations and said the IOA was not trying to encroach upon the autonomy of national sports federations.
Hockey Punjab can't be denied affiliation: Randhir
Indian Olympic Association General Secretary Randhir Singh today said Hockey Punjab cannot be denied affiliation as the IOA constitution makes it mandatory to recognise a state association approved by the state's Olympic association.
Randhir also said IOA believed in "total transparency" and anyone feeling otherwise should contact the IOA secretariat.
"IOA has no interest in indulging in any kind of politics. We believe in total transparency. We function according to the charter of Olympic movement which clearly says that a state association should be affiliated by its national federation if it is approved by the respective Olympic association," he told PTI.
"If the Punjab association is approved by its state Olympic association they will get the affiliation," he said.
Hockey Punjab Chief Sukhbir Singh Badal has accused the IOA and its president Suresh Kalmadi of hatching a conspiracy against the state by debarring them from Hockey India's January 29 elections.
Randhir rejected the accusations and said the IOA was not trying to encroach upon the autonomy of national sports federations. PTI