Govt sets guidelines for awards

With an aim to avoid controversies during the naming of athletes for National Sports Awards, the government on Friday issued guidelines, incorporating a number of conditions to make the selection process transparent and time-bound.

The Standard Operating Procedure issued by the Sports Ministry said only authorised signatories should send the nominations, and sportspersons penalised or against whom enquiry is pending/ongoing for use of drugs/substances will not be eligible for the awards.

A copy of the nominations will be sent to the concerned NSF for verification of the details and achievements stated in the form and for checking if the sportsperson has ever been warned/penalised for any unfair practice like age fraud/sexual harassment, doping etc.

All details in this regard, if any, will have to be given by the NSF along with the verification report, the Ministry said. Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports may suo-moto also nominate sportspersons/ coaches from any sport.

The ministry said Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awardees of previous years could also send nominations for the highest honour, Arjuna, Dhyan Chand and Dronacharya awards in their respective disciplines while Arjuna, Dhyan Chand and Dronacharya awardees of previous years may send nominations for any of these awards.