FIH rejects Mittal’s complaint, says its president Batra committed no breach

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) on Friday refused to take any motion towards its President Narinder Batra on a criticism of irregularity filed by IOA vice-president Sudhanshu Mittal, stating that the incumbent didn’t breach the world physique’s statutes throughout his election in 2016.

In a criticism, Mittal accused Batra of violating the FIH’s statues by holding the submit of Hockey India (HI) president when he was elected FIH head in November 2016.

But FIH’s impartial Integrity Unit Chairman Wayne Snell gave a clear chit to Batra, stating that the matter associated to Mittal’s criticism is “not sustained”.

“In compliance with the applicable FIH procedure, this complaint was forwarded to the independent FIH Integrity Unit (FIU), which today decided that it will not be taking any action regarding FIH President Dr Batra in relation to this matter on the basis that the matter is not sustained,” the FIH said.

“Indeed, according to the FIH Statutes at the time, there was no requirement for Dr Batra to change his relationship with Hockey India after his election as FIH President in November 2016. He therefore committed no breach of the procedure or the FIH Statutes,” it added.

Interestingly, Batra claimed that to make sure there was no battle of curiosity in his election as FIH chief, he resigned from the submit of Hockey India president on November 25, 2016.

Mittal’s allegation on the “illegality” of Batra’s election have emerged amid a feud among the many high brass of the IOA.

He had earlier written to the International Olympic Committee, claiming that Batra was “illegally” elected as IOA president.

Mittal’s allegation is that the IOA structure of 2013, as authorized by the IOC, supplied that the presidential candidate must be a member of the previous government council and Batra was not at the moment.

He alleged that the structure’s interpretation was modified to membership of two previous government councils as an alternative of solely the final council in a Special General Body Meeting held on November 29, 2017.

Earlier within the day, Batra wrote to FIH CEO Thierry Weil and Executive Board members, apologising to the world hockey neighborhood for it being dragged into the infighting inside IOA.

“I apologise to the hockey community that unnecessary internal issues within the Indian Olympic Association are taking up your valuable time and I do hope you and your families are all in good health and are staying safe during these unprecedented times,” Batra stated in his communication.

Batra additionally reiterated that he had finished no mistaken throughout his elections as presidents of each IOA and FIH.

“…I have not flouted any of the Rules and Regulations of the Indian Olympic Association or International Hockey Federation or Hockey India in my election as President of the Indian Olympic Association or the President of the International Hockey Federation,” he wrote.

He accused Mittal of damaging his fame by using unfair means.

“Mittal has gone out of his way to discredit me in front of the Hockey community…questioning my membership with the IOC is his way of exhausting all avenues available to him to again put excessive pressure on me and to humiliate me so that I resign from the post of President, Indian Olympic Association,” stated Batra, who can be an IOC member from India.

“I can only say that his actions are irresponsible, reckless and solely directed only to defame me,” added Batra, who’s at present in quarantine after eight individuals, together with helpers, examined positive for coronavirus at his dwelling.