The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has issued a circular requiring athletes to obtain prior approval before entering into any agreement with sponsors or third parties. The move has sparked controversy, with some questioning the AFI's motives and others criticizing the circular as unconstitutional.
According to senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, the circular violates Article 19 (1) (g) of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of profession, occupation, trade, or business. He also points out that the AFI is not the employer or owner of athletes, who are often employed by the armed forces or public sector undertakings.
The AFI's circular is seen as an attempt to exert control over the destinies of athletes, particularly in the face of growing competition from private sponsors and organizations. The movement of star middle-distance runner Gulveer Singh from Reliance Foundation Youth Sports to rivals JSW Sports is cited as a trigger for the commotion.
Private organizations have emerged as facilitators of logistics, financial assistance, and training expertise, leading to improved performances and medal tallies. However, the AFI wants to keep athletes reined in, while rival organizations compete with each other, offering juicier deals to upcoming stars.
The lack of regulation around athlete representation, due diligence, and registration has led to conflicts of interest and the AFI's recent time-management history has raised concerns about their ability to manage contracts and visas.
Experts suggest that the AFI should focus on improving the quality of coaching, equipment, stadia, and competition instead of interfering with athletes' contracts. The country's doping discipline remains a pressing issue, with 29% of total WADA positives coming from India.
