New Delhi: The Indian Olympic Association on Tuesday termed the government's decision not to allow officials of the IOA and the NSFs to travel to South Korea for the Asian Games at their own cost as interference to their autonomy.
The IOA also expressed unhappiness at the drastic pruning down of the contingent and said it would again asked the government to re-consider its decision to dropped seven disciplines from the Games.
While clearing a 679-member contingent (516 athletes and 163 officials) as against 942 (662 athletes and 280 officials) proposed by the IOA, the government said only names approved by the ministry will form part of Indian contingent and "no cost to government" will not apply for adding any other name.
IOA Secretary General Rajeev Mehta said that this direction of the sports ministry would amount to interference in the autonomy of the IOA and the NSFs.
"I don't know why the ministry wants to stop the federations if they want to send extra people, whom they may need for the better performance of their athletes, to Incheon. This is clearly an interference to the autonomy of the IOA and the NSFs under Olympic Charter," Mehta told PTI.
Mehta also said that the ministry has struck off several team managers of different disciplines from the list of officials and he would take up the matter with the government on wednesday.
"Several managers were struck off from the list and I don't know how the teams of those disciplines will manage without them in Incheon. I will take up the matter with the ministry tomorrow. Also, I will again request the ministry to include the seven disciplines dropped. The IOA should have cleared a bigger contingent," he said.
The ministry said that accommodation and out of pocket allowance will be paid for a period of actual stay in Games Village subject to the condition that it would be admissible from five days before the commencement of the competition and one day after the event.
The ministry also said that "no member of a legislature, office bearer of a political party, judge government servant or employee of any corporation shall accept any foreign hospitality without the prior permission of the Central Government".
"Such of the team members who might be Central Government servants are to be treated as on duty (which include deputation abroad) in respect of this participation by the department/office in which they are employed... The IOA should inform their department/office accordingly," the ministry said.
The ministry also asked the IOA to "ensure that all the sportspersons are clear from dope angle". It said IOA and Sports Authority of India should sit together to decide about conducting dope tests prior to the departures of the teams.
"IOA may also ensure medical fitness of the team/individual prior to their departure," the ministry said.
