The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has resolved internal disputes surrounding the appointment of Raghuram Iyer as CEO and constituted an anti-doping panel in response to International Olympic Committee (IOC) concerns.
The IOA’s Executive Council ratified Iyer’s appointment, initially contested over his ₹20 lakh monthly salary and perks. The deadlock ended with direct intervention by Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, allowing Iyer to officially take office.
Simultaneously, the IOA unveiled a seven-member anti-doping committee led by former tennis pro Rohit Rajpal and featuring stalwarts like Aparna Popat and Dr. PSM Chandran. The initiative comes on the heels of India topping the World Anti-Doping Agency’s 2023 testing figures among major nations, with a positivity rate of 3.8%.
“The IOC flagged India’s doping statistics during our Lausanne visit,” Iyer stated at a joint press event with IOA President P.T. Usha. The delegation included Sports Secretary Hari Ranjan Rao and Gujarat Sports Minister Harsh Sanghavi, aligning with India’s pitch to host the 2036 Olympics in Ahmedabad.
Welcoming the newly tabled National Sports Bill, the IOA emphasised it as a symbol of coordination, not interference. Joint Secretary Kalyan Chaubey reiterated that the bill ensures global federation statutes will prevail during conflicts with domestic provisions.
As India intensifies its Olympic preparations, these measures mark a renewed commitment to transparency and global compliance.
