Bista said that he would officially learn about the actions taken by Nepal Taekwondo Association (NTA) and NSC and clarify himself through a press conference at the earliest. [break]
“I was told by NOC officials that offering me the role of Chef-de-mission was to felicitate me. In Singapore I lobbied for possible wild-card entries as our young taekwondo players could not participate in the qualifying tournament. That was what I had aimed for before leaving Kathmandu,” Bista clarified himself.
National Sports Council (NSC) decided to slap a ban on Bista on Tuesday following his controversial appointment as Chef-de-mission for the Youth Olympic Games.
NSC has accused Bista of violating Sports Council Act. NSC officials have been claiming that only board officials can take charge of the role.
Likewise, NTA also suspended Bista from its central committee on Tuesday after Bista left for Singapore. NTA has formed a three-member probe committee to investigate Bista´s involvement in the decision making process.
Earlier this month, NTA had demanded pullout from the Youth Olympics scheduled to be held in Singapore April this year as its players could not participate in the qualification tournament.
The association had claimed that taekwondo players could not participate in the qualification because of the negligence of Ministry of Youth and Sports, National Sports Council and Nepal Olympic Committee (NOC).
In all these circumstances, NTA is presenting Bista as a traitor.
However, Bista claims that he is loyal to NTA. “I can´t betray my family, taekwondo is my family,” said Bista. He also said that he would not go to Singapore in the Youth Olympics.
Associations concerned
NSC action against Bista drew the attention of 22 other sports associations. They urged NSC on Thursday not to take severe action against the player.
“We told the NSC member secretary that sending Bista as Chef-de-mission was NOC´s mistake but imposing ban on Bista was also a hasty decision,” said Nepal Boxing Association General Secretary Rajeev Shrestha.
“Bista should have asked his association and NSC, but banning him as a player will send a negative message among sportspersons,” said Shrestha.
Likewise, they demanded NSC to stop reshuffling associations. Following Bista´s nomination as Chef-de-mission, NSC has recently reshuffled Nepal Gymnastic Association headed by NOC President Dhruba Bahadur Pradhan.
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