BAI disciplinary committee recommends life ban for Jwala

The Badminton Association of India (BAI)'s disciplinary committee has recommended a life ban for leading doubles player Jwala Gutta for her conduct during an Indian Badminton League (IBL) tie in Bangalore Aug 25.

The 30-year-old, however, can be pardoned if she gives an unconditional apology to BAI president Akhilesh Das Gupta.

"We have recommended a life ban on Jwala for her role in the Krrish Delhi Smashers vs Banga Beats tie. Nowehere in Jwala's reply which she sent to us, is she apologetic for her conduct. So we recommended the ban," BAI's disciplinary committee chairman S. Muralidharan told IANS Saturday.

"However, if she offers an unconditional apology to the president, then she can be pardoned. It is upon the discretion of the president to decide now," Muralidharan, also a BAI vice-president, added.

The Krrish Delhi Smashers, led by icon player Jwala, threatened to forfeit a tie when the Banga Beats tried to replace an injured singles player Hu Yun with Jan O Jorgensen in the eleventh hour.

The Smashers had protested despite the IBL governing council's go-ahead. Only after the Beats decided to leave out O Jorgensen and play Arvind Bhat instead, did Delhi agree to continue, delaying the tie by half an hour.

Following that, the 2011 World Championship women's doubles bronze medallist was given a show-cause notice in early September and was asked to explain her conduct.

BAI's executive council had appointed a retired high court judge to investigate the incident.