TNOA defers crucial decisions

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Olympic Association decided not to take any decision on the hockey and basketball issues that have rocked the State associations. In its annual general meeting on Saturday, TNOA noted that the issues had ramifications in the court of law in various places and so it would be ‘sub-judice’ if it interfered with the proceedings in the court.

TNOA secretary K Murugan said the three-member committee appointed to give a report has recommended that the issue be directed to the national federations and Indian Olympic Association because the state associations have to work closely with the national federations.

There is a case already relating to the credentials of the Tamil Nadu Basketball Association in Chennai and there are many cases in Delhi and other parts in hockey , according to the TNOA secretary. `The committee consisiting of Walter Devaram, CR Visswanathan and JS Chopra noted after verifying the records that in hockey the ad-hoc committee appointed by IOA should decide the issue and in basketball the Basketball Federation of India should play the lead role in sorting out the Tamil Nadu controversy,’’ said Murugan.

Hockey Olympian Muneer Sait, who attended the TNOA meeting from the squash association, objected to the TNOA stand and wanted the body to take a decision. “Why should TNOA toss back the responsibility to Delhi when Kalmadi (IOA) had asked it to solve the crisis,’’ wondered Muneer Sait. Basketball Federation of India secretary Harish Sharma said it would be unfair to comment on the issue as it would be `sub-judice’. The two issues are quite similar as in hockey Jothikumaran has an association of which he has been secretary for more than 15 years and a rival body has fomed its own unit. In basketball, AN Dyanesaran had been either the president or chairman for more than two decdes. Interestingly, both the officials are also key members of the Tamil Nadu Olympic Association. Murugan reckoned the matter would take some time, at least two months, before it could be solved.