PT Usha makes it clear appointment of CEO Raghuram Iyer in IOA most crucial for 2036 Olympics bid by India

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In what can be termed as the last roll of the dice, PT Usha, President of the Indian Olympic Association has called for a Special General Meeting on October 25 at the Olympic Bhawan in New Delhi to thrash out several important matters.

Like a festering sore, the IOA has been grappling over the appointment of a CEO, as mandated by the constitution, which is in consonance with what the International Olympic Committee (IOC) also wants. The EC members of the IOA have stonewalled the appointment of Raghuram Iyer, which has now become a literal 'war' between Usha and the EC members.

The IOA President has issued notice for the SGM and the points mentioned are clear. One, getting the approval for the appointment of the CEO, who is working without a salary from Day 1.

Raghuram Iyer has been working as CEO and also dealing with the IOC, but the EC members, in their own wisdom, want to begin a fresh process to hire a CEO. Not only is this bizarre, it defies all logic as the selection process and criteria were met long back in February 2024.

The EC members think appointment of a CEO is a joke. The IOA elections took place in December 2022 and there is a large section, anti-Usha, still stonewalling it. It almost led to the IOC derecognising India.

Now it has come to a flash point as the CEO is singularly the most important person in day to day affairs. Usha had spoken to OneIndia last week in a video interview on how the EC members have gone back on their promise.

With India keen to host the 2036 Olympics, the CEO becomes the most important person. He will be the interface between India and the IOC, something which the EC members are refusing to understand. It is also well-known, the IOC recognises Raghuram Iyer and had met him at the Paris 2024 Olympics as well. The SGM meeting will clearly be make or break and the worst-case scenario could even see Usha quit as IOA President, it is learnt. She has tried hard, as she said in the video interview last week.

For the record, "the selection of the CEO stands finalised by the nomination committee as per the IOA Constitution," says her letter. "The EC is duty bound to appoint the CEO," adds the letter.

Usha is also going to take up a few more matters like 'serious charges' against a few EC members, where the name of Sahdev Yadav figures prominently. When Usha served him a showcause notice, he replied in a caustic manner. He also wrote to her that the emails were being leaked.

On Thursday, it became clear, emails sent by Usha were being leaked from the EC members and more officials who are now crying wolf. Most important, the EC members have also not understood the role to be played by the CEO.

He will need a full team with him which will include a CFO and HR team. Minus all this, it is impossible to form a committee to take up the bid for the 2036 Olympics, which is the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The IOA President's email on Thursday also mentions corruption and other issues like how some office bearers' election is not in sync with the Sports Code. In addition, there are also show-cause notices issued to Sahdev Yadav, IOA treasurer, which will be taken up. All this has been mentioned before, pertaining to an audit report of the CAG.