IOA Feud Escalates: President PT Usha Accused of Autocratic Leadership by EC Members

A significant feud has erupted within the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) as 12 members of the Executive Council (EC) have written a letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), accusing IOA President PT Usha of functioning in an 'autocratic' manner. This development marks a critical point in the ongoing tensions between Usha and the EC, particularly over the appointment of Raghuram Iyer as the IOA's CEO.

The letter, addressed to Jerome Poivey, the head of IOC's Institutional Relations and Governance, highlights the EC members' deep concern over Usha's conduct. They allege that her approach contradicts the democratic principles enshrined in the IOA's constitution. The EC members, which include senior vice-president Ajay Patel, vice-presidents Rajlaxmi Singh Deo and Gagan Narang, and treasurer Sahdev Yadav, expressed their regret over Usha's behavior, stating it has become a norm for her to 'run down the views and concerns of her colleagues in every single meeting or opportunity'.

Dispute Over CEO Appointment

The dispute centers around the appointment of Raghuram Iyer as the IOA's CEO. During a stormy emergency meeting on Thursday, the EC rejected Iyer's appointment and resolved to start the hiring process anew. This decision was made despite Usha's insistence that Iyer's appointment was made in accordance with the IOA constitution during a meeting on January 5. The EC members are adamant about re-advertising the position and aim to appoint a suitable candidate within the next two months.

The meeting, which was attended by Poivey via video conference, saw a bitter confrontation between Usha and the EC members. Poivey's attempt to mediate the issue was met with the EC's assertion that the IOC does not have the mandate to interfere in the internal matters of a National Olympic Committee (NOC). Usha, however, claimed that Poivey had advised the EC members to ratify Iyer's appointment, which they had initially agreed to but later reneged on.

Salary and Governance Issues

The salary of the CEO, set at Rs 20 lakh per month along with other perks, has also been a point of contention. Usha offered to renegotiate Iyer's salary, but the EC members were insistent on starting the hiring process from scratch. The EC has stated that acting CEO Kalyan Chaubey, who is the Joint Secretary of the IOA, will continue to discharge the duties as per the provisions laid out in the Constitution.

Usha has countered the allegations by stating that the 'purported Minutes of Meeting jointly signed by the 10 EC members is null and void' since she had ended the meeting in Poivey's presence. She expressed her disappointment and apologized to Poivey for the EC members' change in stance.

The ongoing feud highlights significant governance issues within the IOA, with both sides accusing each other of violating the organization's constitutional provisions. The situation remains tense, with the EC and Usha locked in a standoff that could have broader implications for the governance and functioning of the IOA.