World archery refuses to recognise recent AAI elections

Newly-elected AAI President B.V.P. Rao. assured that National championships and trials planned in February and March would be conducted on time.

B.V.P. Rao (c) was elected president of the Archery Association of India (AAI) on December 22.

The World Archery (WA) has expressed its inability to accept the outcome of the Archery Association of India (AAI) elections, held on December 22, as the "the constitution that was used to conduct the elections was never formally approved."

Following the WA's Executive Board meeting on Wednesday, the apex body informed its decision to newly-elected AAI President B.V.P. Rao.

"I regret to inform you that the WA Executive Board at this stage cannot accept the outcome of the General Assembly held on the December 22 and your election as President as well as the rest of the Board since the constitution that was used to conduct the elections was never formally approved and only accepted by the Returning Officer. As far as WA understands, this is also the position of the Indian Olympic Association and the Sports Ministry," said the letter from WA Secretary General Tom Dielen.

"Therefore we ask you to provide us the full minutes of the General Assembly for verification of the above matter before the January 25.  Following the receipt of the minutes the WA Executive Board will take a decision on the possible suspension of the AAI."

READ: AFI prepares ‘no-needle policy’ to deal with errant athletes, support staff

The WA also asked the AAI to keep it informed about the ongoing court proceedings.

The AAI elections were held as per the amended constitution, which went beyond the Union Sports Ministry's 2011 Sports Code and incorporated some provisions of the Justice Lodha Committee recommendation and the revised draft sports code, prepared by the court-appointed administrator-cum-returning officer S.Y. Quraishi. 

AAI President Rao said he would send a report to the WA by the stipulated time. He pointed out that elections were conducted by former Chief Election Commissioner of India under directions of Supreme Court of India.

Rao reminded that the courts intervened only when the previous regime of AAI did not hold elections in time.

He assured that National championships and trials planned in February and March would be conducted on time.