PSB urged to evaluate proposed plans threatening autonomy of sports activities federations

KARACHI: Sports activities federations, beneath the umbrella of the Pakistan Olympic Affiliation (POA), have written a joint letter to the Pakistan Sports activities Board (PSB), urging a evaluate of proposed measures that they declare threaten the autonomy of nationwide sports activities federations.

The letter, signed by leaders of 23 completely different sports activities federations, expressed grave considerations over the PSB’s proposed measures, which the federations argue might undermine the independence of NSFs and violate the ideas set forth by the Olympic Constitution.

“It has come to our consideration that the Pakistan Sports activities Board is within the means of enacting guidelines and rules which will considerably have an effect on the autonomy of Nationwide Sports activities Federations (NSFs) affiliated with the Pakistan Olympic Affiliation (POA),” the letter states.

“These measures, as we perceive, embrace the institution of an election fee of PSB, adjudication on inner issues and complaints inside NSFs by PSB, and PSB’s powers to impose ad-hoc committees on NSFs.”

The federations additionally emphasised that such actions have been in direct battle with the Olympic Constitution, which stresses the significance of governance buildings remaining free from exterior interference.

The letter additional referred to a 2021 communication from the Worldwide Olympic Committee, which clearly reaffirmed the precept of non-interference within the governance and inner affairs of NSFs.

“The IOC’s notice and subsequent letter issued by the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination, Authorities of Pakistan, have strongly emphasised that authorities interference within the governance and inner issues of the NSFs constitutes a violation of the ideas outlined within the Olympic Constitution,” the letter provides.

The federations have known as for the PSB to rethink its measures, aligning them with the Olympic Constitution and the statutes of Worldwide Federations.

“We respectfully request the PSB to evaluate the proposed measures to make sure they align with the Olympic Constitution, IF [international federation] statutes, structure of NSFs, and IFs in addition to maintain consultations with NSFs to collaboratively work for the promotion and growth of sports activities in Pakistan,” the letter urged.

The federations warned that if their considerations aren’t addressed, they could be compelled to take motion to guard their autonomy.

“In case our request isn’t thought-about by the PSB, we, the NSFs, might be compelled to take protecting measures, together with disaffiliation from the PSB and IOC, to retain our standing as NSFs.”

They concluded the letter with a name for a cooperative method to make sure the continued progress of sports activities within the nation: “We belief that the PSB will give due consideration to our request and take obligatory steps to uphold the autonomy and independence of NSFs, that are basic to the success of Pakistan’s participation in worldwide competitions and the Olympic Motion.”

The PSB has not but publicly responded to the federations’ request.

Decision handed emphasising NSFs are autonomous 

In a associated growth, through the Common Council Assembly of the POA held on November 30, 2024, a decision was handed by the federations reiterating their dedication to the ideas of autonomy as enshrined within the Olympic Constitution.

The decision, which was adopted by the Nationwide Sports activities Federations, affiliated with the POA, emphasised that NSFs are autonomous entities sure by the Olympic Constitution and the statutes of their respective Worldwide Federations.

The decision categorically opposed any exterior interference within the governance, electoral processes, or dispute decision mechanisms of the federations.

“NSFs reaffirm their dedication to the ideas of accountable autonomy enshrined within the Olympic Constitution, IF statutes, and the POA Structure, and categorically oppose any exterior interference of their governance, electoral processes, or dispute decision mechanisms,” the decision reads.

The federations additional expressed their respect for the Authorities of Pakistan, acknowledging the significance of sustaining harmonious relations with governmental establishments, however careworn that any acceptance of supervisory management by the PSB would jeopardise their worldwide affiliation.

“Consequently, any acceptance of supervisory or authoritative management by the Pakistan Sports activities Board over the NSFs would jeopardise our worldwide affiliation, compromising the popularity of our NSFs by our respective IFs,” the decision said.

The federations additionally declared that, within the occasion of the PSB enacting guidelines and rules that contravene the Olympic Constitution and the statutes of IFs, they might be compelled to take protecting measures to take care of their standing as unbiased our bodies.

“Within the occasion the PSB enacts guidelines and rules in contravention of the Olympic Constitution and the statutes of IFs, NSFs, and the POA, we the NSFs might be compelled to take protecting measures to take care of our standing as NSFs compliant with the Olympic Constitution,” the decision emphasised.

The decision additionally affirmed that the elections already performed by NSFs in accordance with their respective constitutions and recognised by the Worldwide Federations and POA would stay legitimate, with future elections to be performed with out exterior interference.

“The elections of NSFs which have already been performed in accordance with their respective constitutions and have been recognised by the IFs and the POA shall stay legitimate and recognised till the completion of their respective phrases,” the decision said.

In addition they reiterated their recognition of the Court docket of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) as the very best authority for sports activities disputes, rejecting any various dispute decision mechanisms imposed by the PSB.

“NSFs reaffirm their recognition of the CAS as the very best appellate authority for sports activities disputes and reject any various dispute decision mechanisms imposed by the PSB that battle with the Olympic Constitution, IF statutes, and the POA Structure,” the decision concluded.

The decision might be submitted to the IOC, IFs, and all related stakeholders for acknowledgement and official report.