Sports Ministry orders probe in SAI after complaints from athletes
The Sports Ministry of India has ordered an on-site assessment in the 18 centres of Sports Authority of India (SAI) as the athletes complained that the coaches and officials ate their daily quota of dry fruits. According to the complaint, 50 per cent of the athletes' nutrition quota is pocketed by the administrators. Officials have said that action on the complaint have been taken.
What is SAI and what does it do?
Sports Authority of India (SAI) is the top national sports body set up by the Ministry of Sports in 1984. SAI has nine centres where a variety of courses on sports coaching and medicine are provided. The main function of SAI is to provide help to the National Sports Federations in holding national training camps for the athletes to participate in international competitions.
Training camps offered by SAI
In more than 17 Sports Authority of India centres around the country, national training camps are held for various sports like hockey, football, athletics, swimming, judo, karate, boxing, wrestling, cycling, weightlifting, etc.
Junior athletes exploited more than the seniors
An official at the SAI said that the juniors athletes at the camps are the one who are the main victims as their diet is given by their coaches, while the seniors know what to eat. The official added, "If an athlete is entitled to 500 gm of almonds per week, there have been cases where they have received just 250 gm."
SAI's food quality also comes under scanner
A player has complained that the Sports Authority of India's hostel in Chennai has been serving low quality food. Replying to the complaint, sports minister Viay Goel said that an enquiry will be done and added that the problem doesn't persist in all the centres. He said, "If a player complains about one such incident, it doesn't mean the same is happening everywhere."
