KATHMANDU, Aug 13: The dispute surrounding the Nepal Olympic Committee (NOC) has taken a new turn. While the NOC led by Jeevan Ram Shrestha continues to operate with international recognition, the government has approved the formation of a new ad-hoc NOC committee coordinated by former president Dhruv Bahadur Pradhan.
A few days ago, Minister for Youth and Sports Teju Lal Chaudhary, during a briefing at the ministry, had announced that an ad-hoc NOC committee would be formed with the consent of 22 national sports associations.
The National Sports Council (NSC), chaired by Minister Chaudhary, had earlier declared the NOC under Shrestha’s leadership unconstitutional. The formation of the new ad-hoc committee has now added complexity to the NOC dispute in Nepal.
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According to a statement issued today by the new committee’s spokesperson, Samim Miya Ansari, Pradhan’s ad-hoc committee consists of nine members. Ansari said that the remaining members and other subcommittees would be made public at a press conference to be held on August 17 at the NOC office in Satdobato.
“We have not revealed all names yet. We will provide full details at the press briefing,” he said, adding, “For now, we have only announced the coordinator and my name.”
The statement read, “On August 10, 2025, a joint meeting of presidents, general secretaries, and officials from 23 sports associations affiliated with the Nepal Olympic Committee decided to form a nine-member ad-hoc committee under the chairmanship of Hon. Dhruv Bahadur Pradhan, the outgoing and honorary president of the Nepal Olympic Committee.”
The recent chapter of the NOC dispute began after a special general assembly and election were held under Shrestha’s leadership last year in defiance of a court order. On December 3, by amending the NOC statute at the special general assembly in defiance of the Patan High Court’s order, Shrestha paved the way for himself to serve a third term as president. Previously, the statute allowed only two terms.
Shrestha was then elected for the third time based on the amended statute. According to the NOC, the election was held online despite a Supreme Court order to halt it.
Following this, the NSC declared the NOC’s special general assembly and election invalid. Now, with government approval, an ad-hoc committee has been formed under Pradhan, who has served multiple terms as both NOC general secretary and president.
During Shrestha’s two terms as general secretary, Pradhan was president. After his second term, Pradhan left the NOC and was later named honorary president. Pradhan, also president of the Nepal Gymnastics Association and a former Inspector General of Nepal Police, is currently a federal lawmaker from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party.
