PT Usha reveals unheard details of heated IOA meeting with EC members regarding Raghu Iyer's appointment

Add as a preferred source on Google

PT Usha, President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), addressed the ongoing controversy regarding the appointment of Raghu Iyer as the CEO.

In an exclusive interview with MyKhel, Usha revealed previously unheard details about what went on at the controversial executive committee (EC) meeting on Thursday, September 26.

Former RP-Sanjiv Goenka (RPSG) Group CEO Raghu Iyer was hired to take the IOA's helm in February 2024 but his appointment is yet to be confirmed due to a standoff between PT Usha and the EC members, reportedly regarding his high salary of ₹20 lakh per month.

Regarding Iyer's hiring, Usha clarified that the new IOA constitution mandates appointing a CEO within two months, with stringent eligibility criteria such as 10 years of experience and the management of companies with turnovers exceeding ₹25 crore.

As per the IOA President, upon re-advertising and selection of seven candidates who fulfilled the IOC's norms, a nomination committee was set up. After shortlisting and selection, Raghu Iyer emerged as the preferred candidate.

What objections did IOA EC members raise over Raghu Iyer's appointment as CEO?

Despite the successful selection of Raghu Iyer as the new CEO of the IOA, the EC meeting on Thursday was a challenging one for PT Usha.

"I asked them, each and everybody individually, whether they like Raghu Iyer. They said, 'Yeah, we like Raghu Iyer,' and I think only two said no," Usha revealed in the interview. However, the high salary package was still a bone of contention between the EC members.

Usha claimed in the interview that the EC members approved Iyer's appointment but did not provide a clear stance on his salary range. She sought clarification, asking for both a lower and higher rate, but allegedly received no response. Even athletes Sharath Kamal and Mary Kom, who were part of the nomination committee, inquired about the salary details without success.

Ultimately, Usha, as an EC member herself, negotiated the salary and issued the appointment order to Raghu Iyer, which was then sent to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) for approval.

Both organisations accepted the appointment, and Usha claimed that since Iyer's appointment, the IOA had secured ₹15 crore in funds from the IOC, which had previously been withheld.

PT Usha alleges lack of cooperation, internal hiring suggestions from EC members

Other than the lack of cooperation during the EC meeting, PT Usha also bemoaned the alleged lack of transparency that goes on during such meetings. Usha alleged that she was not allowed to videotape the proceedings nor have any outside counsel present.

It was also alleged that due to a quasi-ban on videotaping of the proceedings, the EC members changed the minutes of the meeting to suit their agenda.

The former three-time Olympian also claimed that some EC members wanted her to hire internal IOA members as the CEO, which she brushed off as an unacceptable idea.

As the controversy regarding Raghu Iyer's appointment threatens to open a chasm between the IOA members and President PT Usha, fans can only hope that all issues are resolved quickly so that India can focus on its bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games.