NEW DELHI: Calling the delay in holding its elections as “wilful and intentional”, the sports ministry on Saturday suspended the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) – headed by Deepa Malik, the country’s first female para-athlete to win a medal at the Paralympics in Rio 2016 – citing violation of the national sports code and misgovernance.
The ministry has also informed the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the sport’s global governing body, about the derecognition of the PCI and formation of an ad-hoc body, composed of distinguished administrators and sportspersons. The suspension means that Indian para-athletes will not be allowed to enter any IPC-sanctioned competition, including this year’s Paralympic Games in Paris, under the national flag.
