Alleged forex violation by IOA referred to Finance Ministry

The Sports Ministry has referred the issue of alleged foreign exchange violation by the Indian Olympic Association to the Finance Ministry for legal opinion, the Rajya Sabha was told on Friday.

On the grant provided to the IOA for the Sydney Olympics, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Uma Bharti said out of a demand for Rs 6.4 million, the government gave Rs 5.8 million to the sports body.

Talking about the performance of the Indian contingent, the minister said though India got only one medal the average performance was better than in the previous Olympics.

The minister appealed to the public and private sector to increase their contributions to the Sports Development Fund, instituted recently.

On the awards to be given to Karnam Malleshwari, the sole medal winner at the Sydney Olympics, she said besides a prize-money of Rs 600,000 announced by the Prime Minister, the Sports Ministry is also planning to give an award.

In reply to the main question by Abani Roy (RSP), the minister said, "Based on information and media reports on the issue of conversion of money into foreign exchange and transfer thereof during the Sydney Olympics, the government asked the IOA to furnish complete details."