S. Dinesh Kumar was appointed as the new director of competition, following a strong recommendation from the three-member Prevention of Manipulation of Competition Committee (PMCC).<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt is important that we take on board the recommendations of the PMC Committee and protect the integrity of the National Games Uttarakhand,\u201d said GTCC chairperson Sunaina in a release on Monday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cBesides receiving complaints against the erstwhile director of competition, we are also shocked to discover that he had named office-bearers and executive committee members of some state associations as well as someone who was an equipment vendor for the selection trials as sports-specific volunteers,\u201d she said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
According to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), officials appointed by the Taekwondo Federation of India (TFI) had allegedly pre-decided the winners of various weight categories in exchange for bribes. \u201cThe asking price is Rs. 3 lakh for gold medal, Rs. 2 lakh for silver and Rs. 1 lakh for bronze,\u201d the IOA was informed.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Further investigations revealed that T. Praveen Kumar had appointed office-bearers and executive members from some state associations\u2014as well as an equipment vendor\u2014as sports-specific volunteers for the selection trials. This raised further red flags about conflicts of interest and potential misconduct.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
IOA President PT Usha expressed her disappointment over the allegations, calling it a shameful act that goes against the spirit of fair competition.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt is shocking and sad that the National Games medals were allegedly decided away from the field of play even before the start of competitions,\u201d said Usha. \u201cAt the IOA, we are committed to being fair to all our athletes and protect them from people conniving to manipulate the competition and tarnish the image of the National Games,\u201d she added in a statement.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In response to the scandal, the Prevention of Manipulation of Competition Committee (PMCC) issued four key recommendations to prevent future disputes and ensure fairness in the tournament.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
IOA was advised to remove Praveen Kumar and appoint a more suitable official. This recommendation has already been implemented with the appointment of S. Dinesh Kumar.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
At least 50% of the nominated officials were advised to be replaced with duly qualified referees with international or national certifications. However, it is still unclear whether this measure has been implemented.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe PMC Committee also recommended that the entire competition be recorded on video and the footage preserved for reference should the need arise,\u201d said IOA in a statement. \u201cThe panel said that a team of officials nominated by the GTCC should be present at the venue throughout the competition to reduce the scope of manipulation and give all athletes a fair chance at winning medals.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
At least 50% of the nominated officials were advised to be replaced with duly qualified referees with international or national certifications. However, it is still unclear whether this measure has been implemented.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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