Hockey Sex Scandal: Coach withdraws from tours

New Delhi, Jul 21: In the wake of the sexual harassment allegations, the coach of the Indian women hockey team, M K Kaushik has withdrawn from the team's upcoming tours.

The coach's decision follows the move by the governing body, Hockey India (HI), to sack the videographer, who allegedly indulged in a sexual orgy with prostitutes while on foreign tours with the team.

The scandal has sunk the national sport into a state of crisis just days ahead of the team's next scheduled tournament - the Asian Champions Trophy in Korea, which kick starts on Jul 27.

The coach will not be travelling with the team for the tournament. However, the assistant coach will be accompanying the players.

The scandal surfaced when an anonymous mail from a member of the national team was sent to HI alleging that one of the coaching staff had asked for sexual favours and used vulgar language during a recent Canada and China tour.

The mail, which also accused the videographer of the team of indulging in a sexual orgy with prostitutes while on tour, contained the five photographs of the videographer with prostitutes.

These accusations prompted the governing body to sack the videographer and establish a four-member committee to probe into the allegations.

Speaking on the decision of the coach to opt out of the upcoming tours, HI President Vidya Stokes said, "I must talk to the coach and the girl who has made the allegations of sexual harassment separately. Mr Kaushik has withdrawn his name because he wants his name to be cleared."

While the president expressed hope that everything would be sorted out by Wednesday, Jul 21, HI's Secretary General Narinder Batra said, "We will have to look for a new coach and that would be done after consulting the Sports Authority of India."

OneIndia News