IOC Halts Funding to Indian Olympic Association

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has suspended funding to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) due to unresolved internal disputes and governance issues, particularly between IOA President P.T. Usha and treasurer Sahdev Yadav. This suspension, communicated in a letter from IOC's James MacLeod, affects all financial support except direct payments to athletes under Olympic scholarships, threatening future athlete development programs. The IOC emphasized the need for swift resolution of these disputes to avoid further risks, including potential bans on India’s participation in the Olympic movement. The conflict escalated following the appointment of Raghuram Iyer as CEO and allegations of financial mismanagement, leading to a reported loss of Rs 24 crore. The IOC has made numerous attempts to mediate but has seen little success, prompting this decisive action. The situation remains critical, as the IOA faces pressure to rectify its governance issues to restore funding.