Goel clarifies stand on Sports Code

Sports Minister Vijay Goel today rubbished reports that government servants cannot be elected to National Sports Federations (NSFs), saying government officials can hold posts in any sports body for one term under the present Sports Code.
"Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports Vijay Goel clarified in a statement issued to the media that the present Sports Code allows Government officers to hold posts in any sports body only for one term," the ministry said in a statement today.
"There is no such provision to debar Ministers in the existing Code. The age limit of 70 years for President, Secretary and Treasurer of NSF and tenure limit of 12 years is also there in the existing Code."

There were media reports that Sports Ministry's nine- member committee, constituted to re-draft the National Sports Development Code of India (NSDCI) has proposed that Ministers and government servants can't be elected to the NSFs.
However, Goel informed that the Committee has given its report to the Government which, in turn, has submitted it to Delhi High Court.
"So far, the Government has not made consultation with the stakeholders and no decision on the recommendation has been taken yet," Ministry said.
There were also reports that the BCCI was mulling to embrace the revised version of the Sports Code.
However, the Sports Ministry said it "has no role in the matter as it has not received any directions from the Supreme Court or any other Court with regard to BCCI.