Acting tough on a fraudulent withdrawal of money for a 10-year-old event which was never held, the Sports Ministry on Monday withdrew its recognition from the Gymnastics Federation of India (GFI) for six months.

GFI failed to rebut charges levelled against it by two complainants that Rajasthan Gymnastics Association (RGA) “had availed of full admissible government assistance” through GFI for holding the 38th Junior National Gymnastics Championships at Jodhpur from December 24-28, 1997.

The championship was never held and Onkar Singh, former GFI Secretary, and Ram Dulare, General Secretary Delhi Gymnastics Association, had alleged that RGA had submitted forged documents to draw out the money and current GFI Secretary Kan Singh Rathore, who was RGA Secretary at that time, was involved in the fraudulent act.

On February 15, the Ministry heard the complainants and GFI Secretary Rathore who could not submit any document to refute the charges. It passed an order under the signature of Director (Sports) Joe Sebastian that “GFI is suspended for six months from March 5 — the date of issue of the order.”

The GFI was also asked to refund Rs 2 lakh — the amount released for the championship — and an additional Rs 2.80 lakh as penal interest (on the basis of 14 per cent per annum for 10 years), to be paid within one month of the order.