`IOA used athletes to `smuggle’ exchange’

NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 22: The Indian Olympics Association (IOA) has used the Indian athletes to Sydney Olympics to "smuggle" foreig...

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NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 22: The Indian Olympics Association (IOA) has used the Indian athletes to Sydney Olympics to "smuggle" foreign exchange worth Rs 1.25 crore out of the country, said former cricketer and now Member of Parliament Kirti Azad, here on Sunday.

Talking to newspersons he asked IOA President Suresh Kalmadi to explain why $ 5,000 worth of travellers cheques were issued in the name of each athlete one day before their departure and only $ 770 (1380 Australian dollars) were actually given to them at Sydney. The total foreign exchange withdrawn in the name of 70-odd athletes came to around 1.5 crore in Indian currency.

Corroborating the facts, shot putter Shakti Singh, who was present at the press meet said they could know about the sinister design only in Sydney after receiving 1380 Australian dollars. The photocopy of the passport of Rosa Kutty was attached to the press note, which clearly showed that $5000 had been issued to the bearer.

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Urging Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Union Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha to institute an inquiry by the CBI and directorate of enforcement into the misuse of foreign exchange, Azad said, "These dishonest sports administrators" could take the sportspersons and people for a ride.

He claimed that many athletes called on him to express their predicament but did not want to come to the fore, fearing action against them. Even legendary sprinter P T Usha, who had gone to the Sports Village in Sydney, came to know about the "fraud on the athletes" and informed him, he added.The IOA had swindled Rs. 1.25 crore of the public fund for their personal benefit, he alleged.

Asked whether he was raising the issue because of his non-inclusion in the Sydney contingent, Azad said, "Had I gone there it would not have happened?""Had they required money for the expenditure on the contingent, it could have been drawn on behalf of the IOA and not in the name of the athletes," he justified.