HI panel bans players, officials for code of conduct breach

The Disciplinary Committee of Hockey India today handed bans on some players, coaches and officials for breach of code of conduct after hearing the parties here.
The bans were imposed after consideration of the facts presented before the committee members and hearing of the players and coaches. The members felt the bans will discourage other players and officials from indulging in similar actions in future and ensure that they follow HI Code of Conduct.
One such case took place during match between Uttar Pradesh and Air India in the 4th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship in Lucknow wherein Uttar Pradesh player Devesh Chauhan stated that when he appealed for a foul, international umpire Sangha used abusive language.

This was reported by Chauhan to Tournament Director R V Shelar who denied any such incident and rather alleged that Chauhan was doing this to get even with some incident of the past which took place during the Surjit Hockey Tournament.
During the meeting today both Chauhan and Shelar did not turn up and hence a decision was taken to ban both of them for the next three months for making false allegations against each other. The ban will be effective from today.
The committee discussed another case which took place during 4th HI Women National Championship in Mysore regarding the behaviour of international umpire Anupama Puchimanda.

A ban of two months was imposed on her effective April 1 for not wearing the designated colour t-shirt before the semifinal match. She also tried to dominate her co-umpire giving decisions on behalf of her. Also after the tournament ended, she left Mysore before informing anyone.

In another decision, all 18 members of Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy women's team have been banned for a period of one month beginning April 1 for walking off the field for 40-50 seconds during a match in 4th Hockey India Senior Women National Championship in Bhopal.
Coach Paramjit Singh, along with team manager Usha Nimbalkar, are banned for two months for breaching Hockey India code of conduct by walking off the field. The ban will be effective from April 1.

All the players and officials can appeal against the decision within 30 days before the Hockey India Athletes Dispute and Grievance Redressal Committee.