New Delhi: Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra has raised concerns over the election rules of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), questioning a possible inconsistency between the organisation’s Constitution and the rules governing the election of Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOM) representatives.
Bindra recently made public a letter dated October 31, which he had sent to IOA President PT Usha and CEO Raghuram Iyer seeking clarification on the issue.
According to Bindra, despite receiving an indication of which rules were being followed, his main concern regarding the constitutional provisions remains unanswered.
The election process involved preparing a list of 80 eligible sportspersons through a 10-tier eligibility system. Eight representatives, comprising four men and four women, were then elected to the IOA General Assembly.
Bindra clarified that his concerns were not related to any individual candidate or his own decision not to contest the election. Instead, he emphasised the importance of transparency, fairness and accountability in sports administration.
He also highlighted that strong institutional governance is essential for India’s future sporting ambitions, stating that the credibility of sports organisations is as important as athletes’ achievements.
The SOM elections have attracted attention following PT Usha’s fifth-place finish in the women’s category. Anju Bobby George, Rani Rampal, Dola Banerjee and Saina Nehwal secured the four available positions.
The controversy has also seen allegations of external pressure on candidates to withdraw and concerns over alleged campaigning violations.
Bindra has urged the IOA to ensure that constitutional clarity, fairness and integrity remain central to all electoral and administrative processes.
Meanwhile, the IOA Executive Council elections are scheduled to take place on December 5, 2026.
