A special NSC meeting on Tuesday evening took the decision to this effect. [break]
NSC has accused Bista of violating Sports Council Act. According to NSC officials, only board officials can be appointed as Chef-de-mission. The meeting also decided to seek clarification over Bista´s absence in office without informing NSC. "We can ban him for a year or two but Bista will get chance to furnish his clarification," said Pitambar Timalsina, vice-president of NSC.
Timalsina said NSC was preparing to honor the four consecutive gold medal winner of the South Asian Games with a house and a car. However, the procedure has now been halted as Bista "betrayed" Nepali sports fraternity, said Timalsina.
Similarly, Nepal Taekwondo Association (NTA) suspended Bista from its central committee on Tuesday following Bista´s appointment to the post.
The NTA also formed a three-member probe committee to investigate into Bista´s involvement in the decision. NTA treasurer Rabiraj Singh heads the probe committee, which comprises NTA member Shreeman Thapa and Hemanta Dangi.
The emergency meeting of the NTA on Tuesday decided to suspend Bista from the posts of member of the association and secretary of the Players Protection Committee.
At a press conference organized by NTA after the meeting on Tuesday, NTA General-Secretary Deepraj Gurung informed that the probe committee would submit the report within 10 days.
Nepal Olympic Committee (NOC) sent Bista to Singapore as ´Chef-de-mission´ for the Youth Olympic Games. Following the nomination of NOC, Bista flew to Singapore on Monday to take part in the meeting of ´Chef-de-mission´ that kicked off on Tuesday.
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).
The association had handed over a six-point memorandum to the ministry on March 2 demanding Nepal´s pullout from the Youth Olympics as well as compensation to players and the association.
Bista is also member of the NTA central committee.
"Our association is in protest as our young players could not participate in the qualifying events and NOC utilized a player against others by appointing Bista as Chef-de-mission. We´ll investigate on Bista and may take severe action against him,” said Gurung.
National Sports Council has also shown its concern over Bista´s appointment. NSC Vice-President Pitambar Timalsina said if Bista has gone to Singapore in the capacity of ´Chef-de-mission´, NSC will take action against him. NSC officials are claiming that only its board officials can take the charge of the role, not its staffer.
On the other hand, NOC General-Secretary Jeevan Ram Shrestha has been claiming that appointing ´Chef-de-mission´ is NOC´s sole right and NOC is felicitating SAG record holder Bista nominating him for the role.
NGA reshuffled
The National Sports Council reshuffled Nepal Gymnastics Association (NGA) on Tuesday following a dispute between NSC and Nepal Olympic Committee (NOC).
NOC President Dhruba Bahadur Pradhan, who is also the president of NGA, was replaced by former NSC Member Secretary Kishore Bahadur Singh.
The dispute began after NOC appointed taekwondo ace Deepak Bista chef-de-mission for the Youth Olympic Games against their wish.
Baburam Thapa and Narayan Timilsina are the newly appointed vice-presidents of the NGA while Mukunda Lal Nakarmi is the general secretary.
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