Shillong, Sep 11: The Directorate of Sports & Youth Affairs will conduct hearings into the allegations of misappropriation made by parents of young karatekas against the Meghalaya School of Martial Arts and its related Meghalaya State Karate-Do Federation towards the end of the month.
In July several women came forward to publicly accuse the MSMA and MSKF of serious wrongdoing, such as appropriating a percentage of award money and scholarships that the state government allocates to athletes. It is this charge that the MSMA and MSKF are being investigated for.
There were other allegations as well, namely that the MSKF sent an unqualified coach to accompany a contingent for a tournament outside the state, that the MSKF had needlessly sent a team of sub-junior karatekas for a tournament even though that event had no suitable category for them, and that the body had falsified certificates.
Lorenza Songthiang, on behalf of the MSMA and MSKF, refuted the allegations the following day, saying that the two bodies had merely asked for voluntary financial contributions in order to be able to continue functioning and in order to send karatekas to outside tournaments where they could have the chance of winning medals and gaining rewards from the state government.
The Meghalaya State Olympic Association and DSYA took note of the allegations. The MSKF is not affiliated to the MSOA, however, though its chief, Donny Ranee, is linked to it through different sports. As such, the MSOA had issued a show-cause notice to Ranee for “defaming the image” of the association.
The inquiry committee was constituted by the DSYA, which hands out the cash awards and scholarships for athletes. The four-person committee comprises two representatives from the state government and two from the MSOA.
Those parents who made the original allegations have been requested to present their case with supporting evidence on 24th September. Songthiang will be able to present the case of the MSMA and MSKF on 30th September.
(File photo of (left and right) Donny Ranee and Lorenza Songthiang)