IOA Panel Dismisses Lovlina Borgohain’s Gender Discrimination…

The Indian Olympic Association’s (IOA) investigative committee has reportedly found no evidence supporting boxer Lovlina Borgohain’s allegations of gender discrimination against the Boxing Federation of India executive director, Arun Malik. Despite clearing Malik of the charges, the committee suggested the adoption of a more “athlete-centric” approach by all national sports federations.

Lovlina, a former middleweight world champion and Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist, had accused Malik of rude and disrespectful behavior indicative of gender bias during a virtual meeting earlier this year. In response to her complaint, the IOA had set up a three-member panel under the direction of the sports ministry to investigate the allegations.

According to a source, the committee reviewed video footage of the meeting and found no evidence supporting Lovlina’s claims. It was noted that Malik spoke in a loud and authoritative manner at times, especially when disagreeing with Lovlina’s request for a personal coach. However, the committee concluded that his behavior could not be interpreted as disrespectful towards Lovlina.

The committee emphasized the need for a more measured approach when interacting with female athletes, particularly ones of Lovlina’s stature. The final decision on any actions resulting from these findings will be decided by PT Usha, who led the IOA investigation, and the sports ministry. The committee’s report has reportedly been submitted to both entities, though the findings are yet to be made public and have not been shared with either Lovlina or Malik.