ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Sports Board has written to the Olympic Council of Asia, seeking the removal of anomalies in the process of the upcoming elections of the Pakistan Olympic Association.

Alleging a lack of transparency, the PSB’s letter to OCA director general Dr Hussain Al-Musallam pointed out a number of issues pertaining to the elective general council meeting of the POA scheduled for Dec 30.

The PSB stated in the letter dated Dec 10, a copy of which is available with Dawn, that several steps are being taken by POA for “deliberate manipulation of the electoral process, depriving election contestants of a fair opportunity and violating the good governance principles of IOC”.

“These concerns pertain to a lack of transparency, violations of good governance principles, and procedural irregularities in the electoral process, which undermine the fairness and legality of the elections,” the PSB says.

It informed that the POA has made amendments to its constitution but has failed to upload the IOC-approved amended constitution on its official website less than two weeks before the polls are due.

“… this critical document remains unavailable, depriving stakeholders and election contestants of the opportunity to review it in line with the Good Governance Principles of the lOC,” the PSB added.

“The POA issued a notice on 29th November 2024 for the Elective General Council meeting but stated that the electoral information and other requisite documents would be provided in due course of time.”

The country’s sports regulatory body added that the electoral college, whose composition was circulated on Dec 16, lacks legitimacy.

“Ambiguity regarding Olympic and Non-Olympic Sports: Federations of Baseball, Softball, and Squash, which are included in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, have not been clearly categorised as Olympic Sports,” it said.

“The POA has ambiguously stated that confirmation from the IOC will determine whether these sports are considered Olympic, affecting their voting strength (3 votes for Olympic sports}.”

The PSB also highlighted that despite doping charges on the Pakistan Weightlifting Federation, it had been included in the electoral college.

“On one hand, the POA has not given voting rights to the Athletics Federation of Pakistan and the Pakistan Cycling Federations due to their disaffiliation with the POA but despite doping charges, the Pakistan Weightlifting Federation has been allowed to vote,” it contended.

“The report of the International Testing Agency is available on their official website. The PSB has already suspended the Weightlifting Federation and informed the International Weightlifting Federation and WADA about this suspension.

“Giving voting right to a body involved in doping by the POA shows the extent of violations of the IOC Charter and World Anti-Doping Code.”

The PSB also said there was lack of clarity over the inclusion of five federations namely fencing, gymnastics, tug of war, archery and bodybuilding.

It said that fencing, gymnastics and tug of war federations weren’t affiliated with the PSB so weren’t national federations and therefore, “ineligible to vote” while the archery federation was split into two factions while the bodybuilding officials weren’t recognised.

The letter also pointed out that several individuals have dual votes as member of federations and being POA representatives.

“This structure is meant to manipulate the electoral college thus rendering the entire electoral process illegal,” said the PSB, while reminding the OCA about the issues regarding the Pakistan Boxing Federation.

“The PSB has imposed a ban on Muhammad Khalid Mehmood [PBF president and POA secretary general] and retired Lt Col Nasir ljaz Tung [ PBF secretary] for violations of laws.

“Furthermore, the International Boxing Association, through its letter dated 18” March, 2021, did not recognise the elections conducted by either faction of the PBF. Given this lack of recognition and the ongoing legal disputes, the Boxing Federation’s eligibility to cast votes in POA elections is not only illegal but also make the above-mentioned persons as ineligible candidate for any post in the POA.”

The PSB reminded the OCA that it respects the autonomy of national sports federations and adheres by the rules prohibiting interference in their affairs while stating the latter was highlight the “actions of the POA that are contrary to the Olympic Charter”.

“These actions risk undermining transparency, accountability, and fairness in the electoral process,” the PSB said in its concluding remarks. “The PSB is committed to foster transparency and good governance in sports administration in Pakistan.”

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2024