A day after the
Hindustan Times
exposed how certificates of participation in the National Games were being misused, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) awoke to the scandal, and set up an inquiry into the matter.
We had obtained a certificate in the name of 'Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi', representing 'Gujarat state' in the 20-km walk at the Guwahati Games in February.
"The IOA would like to make it clear that... participation and merit certificates are issued by the hosts," an IOA release said on Friday. "The issue becomes very serious if somebody can fraudulently manage to get a... certificate... without having participated."
"...The IOA will ensure... a proper record of participation certificates... (It) will (put up) a list of participants... on the (IOA) website... Mr KP Singh Deo, chairman of the Sports Commission, will conduct an inquiry into the issue."