FIBA recognises Govindraj as BFI president

The international basketball federation (FIBA) has recognised the results of the Basketball Federation of India elections held here on March 27, naming K Govindraj as its president and Chander Mukhi Sharma as the secretary-general.

Two BFI factions had held meetings in Bengaluru on March 27 and in Pune on March 28, with the Bengaluru meeting electing Govindraj and Sharma as its top officials and the Pune meeting picking Poonam Mahajan and Roopam Sharma as the president and secretary-general respectively.

In a letter, copies of which were sent to the Indian Olympic Association and the Sports Ministry, FIBA secretary general Patrick Baumann said after a thorough review of the BFI constitution, election guidelines issued by the government and two Delhi High Court orders, as well as positions submitted by all sides, FIBA concluded that the Bengaluru meeting was held in accordance with the BFI constitution.

FIBA questioned the legitimacy of the meeting in Pune which was held without the outgoing president, secretary-general and treasurer in attendance and said “no concrete evidence was put forward which would question the validity altogether of the General Council held in Bengaluru.”

FIBA noted that the files submitted to it “contain extremely serious allegations which may be subject to criminal proceedings in India as well as to proceedings under FIBA Code of Ethics” and warned that if the matter was not settled within the basketball fraternity in India, and should the present decision not accepted by all sides, it reserved the right to shed light into these allegations and initiate further proceedings.

FIBA urged the president and secretary-general elected in Bengaluru to meet with those elected in Pune to settle the matter in a constructive manner and within the spirit of sport keeping the development of basketball in India and the good of the athletes in mind. The IOA had supported the elections in Pune but FIBA urged the body to abide by the FIBA decision as it fell in line with the Olympic Charter. It also requested the sports ministry to provide all support to BFI to ensure a smooth transition process.