BAI disciplinary panel recommends life ban for Jwala

The disciplinary committee of the Badminton Association of India (BAI) 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.

"We have recommended a life ban on Jwala for her role in that tie. Nowehere in Jwala's reply which she sent to us, is she apologetic for her conduct. So we recommended the ban on her. However, if she unconditionally apologises to the president, then she can be pardoned. It is upon the discretion of the president to decide now," BAI's disciplinary committee chairman S. Muralidharan told IANS.

The Krrish Delhi Smashers led by icon player Jwala threatened to forfeit the tie when the Banga Beats tried to replace an injured singles player Hu Yun with Jan O Jorgensen in the eleventh hour. The Smashers protested despite the IBL governing council's go-ahead. Only after the hosts Beats decided to leave out O Jorgensen and play Arvind Bhat instead, did Delhi agree to continue.

Jwala was given a show-cause notice following that and was asked to explain her conduct in early September.

BAI's executive council had decided to appoint a retired High Court judge to investigate the incident when the same tie was delayed by half an hour due to the same issue.