IOA treasurer Sahdev Yadav threatens legal action against president PT Usha

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) treasurer Sahdev Yadav has threatened legal action against the IOA president PT Usha. This follows after Usha issued a show-cause notice regarding a complaint challenging Yadav's eligibility to hold his position.
On September 10, Usha sought an explanation from Yadav, who also presides over the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF).The anonymous complaint accused Yadav and others of violating age and tenure guidelines set by the National Sports Code.
According to the Sports Code, officials must step aside after 12 consecutive years in office. Yadav, having been a former secretary, has served on the IWLF board for 15 years, reported PTI.
"It is very unfortunate that you have given value to such baseless and politically motivated letter fully knowing that election of executive council of IOA were held under the supervision of Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in 2022," Yadav responded in a strongly-worded letter to Usha dated September 23.
He continued, "I request you to withdraw your notice sent to many office bearers and EC members including me ... failing which I shall be construed (constrained) to take all legal recourse for defaming my individual image in public at large though social media and also before the sports ministry and the IOC."
Usha's letter to Yadav was also sent to the sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Yadav claimed Usha's letter was leaked to the media and public before he received it. He stated that his social image and that of the IOA had been defamed.
The situation has intensified the ongoing factional feud within the IOA.
Usha has clashed with Executive Council members earlier this year, accusing them of trying to sideline her. This includes issuing termination letters to an official she appointed.
A majority of EC members had previously signed a suspension order nullifying Raghuram Iyer's appointment as IOA CEO in January.
Adding to the controversy is an amount of Rs 1.75 crore released to the IWLF for a doping fine before the 2010 Commonwealth Games (CWG).
In her September 10 letter, Usha questioned Yadav about allegations of "filing and furnishing false information in the IOA, misappropriation, and writing off public money belonging to the IOA for the benefit of the IWLF."
Yadav, who was the IWLF Secretary General at the time, called the allegations "completely false and frivolous."
He wrote, "You have chosen to indulge in mudslinging and character assassination ... your notice dated 10.09.2024, and its defamatory contents were widely circulated in the media even before I received the copy of the same."
Yadav added, "You are requested to withdraw the notice and the reckless allegations. I reserve the right to initiate legal action, both criminal and civil, for the mental harassment caused and on account of the baseless accusations directed towards me."
In 2010, just before the Delhi CWG, the Sports Ministry directed the Organising Committee to release Rs 1.75 crore interest-free loan to the IWLF to pay a doping fine of USD 3,75,000 to the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF).
The ministry noted that the Rs 1.75 crore was part of the approved Rs 25 crore budget for sports development under the Joint Marketing Agreement of the Host City Contract of Commonwealth Games.
The IWLF was under pressure to pay the doping fine of USD 3,75,000 and an additional USD 31,000 for individual fines and 'B' sample testing charges. Failing to pay would have barred Indian weightlifters from the Commonwealth and Asian Games.
Yadav claimed in his response to Usha that the loan was waived off by the IOA after the 2010 CWG, making the issue irrelevant now.
He wrote, "The said amount was subject to deliberation at the 5th EC meeting dated 01.11.2021 (in which) the waiver of the amount was unanimously approved. No subsequent AGM's, including two presided by you, have taken a contrary decision in this regard till date."
"There is no outstanding issue related to the amount in question. You are now trying to disown the proceedings of the AGMs that have been presided by you."
The situation remains tense as the IOA continues to grapple with internal disputes and allegations.