The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Monday suspended the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) for bringing discredit to the nation through its activities and decided to form an ad hoc committee to run the affairs of the game.
At an Executive Committee meeting convened to discuss the future of hockey administration following allegations leveled against the IHF secretary K.Jothikumaran, a unanimous decision was taken to suspend the federation.
The IOA president, Suresh Kalmadi, was authorized to nominate a five member ad hoc body to run the game till such time .the issues plaguing the IHF are solved. This is the second time that an ad hoc body has been formed to run hockey in the country. In 1975 infightings in the IHF led to the formation of such a panel.
IOA had to intervene in the affairs of IHF due to the pressure of International Hockey Federation (FIH) to intervene and take appropriate action to guarantee the administration of the Indian Hockey Confederation and Indian Hockey.
The members, who called for some drastic action, were considerably prompted and motivated by the fact that India had failed to make it to the Olympics for the first time in 80 years.