Sports Ministry suspends Paralympic Committee of India (PCI)

The sports ministry on Saturday suspended the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI), which is led by Deepa Malik, who is the nation’s first female para-athlete to win a medal at the Paralympics in Rio 2016, citing misgovernance and a breach of the national sports code. Notably, it characterized the delay in holding the elections as “willful and intentional.”

In addition, the ministry advised the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), which is the worldwide governing body of the sport, about the PCI’s decertification and the creation of an ad hoc committee made up of renowned officials and players.

Moreover, Indian para-athletes are banned from competing under the national flag in any IPC-sanctioned event, including the Paralympic Games in Paris this year.

Notably, the need for the change came from PCI’s irregular procedures. However, the choice has the support of the para-athletes and coaches. The ministry gave three justifications for the harsh measures it took in the notice of suspension.

India para-athletes at the Rio Paralympics 2016 during a similar suspension of the PCI: Report

“Considering the fact that the PCI acts as an NPC as well as an NSF for a few disciplines, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) is hereby directed to coordinate with the IPC to form an ad-hoc committee comprising eminent administrators and sportspersons to undertake these tasks performed by PCI to safeguard the interests of the Indian para-sportspersons and the para-sports disciplines, who will oversee the operations of the PCI, and conduct free, fair and transparent elections as per the extant instructions under the sports code along with the constitution of the PCI,” the ministry wrote in its suspension order.

“We recall with much appreciation the IPC’s invaluable support in 2015, allowing SAI to facilitate the participation of India para-athletes at the Rio Paralympics 2016 during a similar suspension of the PCI. It is with hope and respect for our continued partnership that we seek the IPC’s support again,” it added further.