Inaugurating the 36th National Badminton Championship on Tuesday, Lama said the NOC with international recognition has been threatening associations to bar their athletes from international participation if they continue to obey NSC´s orders. [break]
"I´ve been hearing about such threats in recent days. If it [Pradhan-led NOC] barred athletes, National Sports Council will leave no stone unturned to enforce the laws of the land and fight for the rights of athletes," challenged Lama.
"The NOC dispute has been hindering the development of sports in the country and the current NSC leadership is committed to resolving the problem. However, if some people threaten associations and try to bar athletes from international participation, we´ll not tolerate," said Lama.
Lama asked all the NOC member associations to discuss the dispute and find a common solution. "NSC is clear that none other than the member associations have the right to guide the Olympic Movement in the country and seek solution to the NOC dispute. Neither NSC nor the Supreme Court can guide the Olympic Movement. Only the International Olympic Committee (IOC) can dictate the associations," opined Lama.
Meanwhile, NOC Deputy General Secretary Lama Tendi Sherpa, talking to Republica, refuted the allegations.
"We have not threatened any associations, instead the current NSC leadership is threatening associations to shun the NOC with international recognition. NSC is engaged in a politics of negation," said Sherpa. "NSC has been warning associations of stopping financial support if they do not shun the NOC," alleged Sherpa.
Sherpa said the NOC has been tolerating all the obstacles posed by NSC so as to prevent the situation from getting worse. "The current NSC leadership wrote to several embassies in Nepal not to issue visas to athletes on the recommendation of NOC. What if the NOC does the same?" questioned Sherpa.
"Member Secretary [Lama] has been accusing the NOC leadership of aggravating the situation to hide his wrongdoings," alleged Sherpa. "He is boycotting the NOC leadership in public. What would happen if we boycott his leadership in international forums?" challenged Sherpa.
Citing the Supreme Court verdict of November 4, 2010, NSC has been asking the national associations to sever ties with the Pradhan-led NOC. Two different NOCs -- one led by Pradhan and the other led by Rukma SJB Rana -- have been claiming legitimacy. While the Supreme Court´s verdict recognized the Rana-led committee, IOC has recognized the committee led by Pradhan.
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