The Sports Ministry constituted a two-member committee on Tuesday to enquire into the allegations of marathon runner OP Jaisha, who claims to have been denied water refreshment during her event at the Rio Games.
Jaisha, who finished 89th in the marathon event, had fainted after crossing the finishing line in the event at Rio. She has alleged that no water or energy drinks were made available by the Indian officials during her event, leaving her completely exhausted at the end of the race.
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI), however, has asserted that the athlete herself refused any such arrangement when approached a day before the event.
“It has been widely reported in the media that Ms OP Jaisha, marathon runner collapsed at the end of the marathon run in Rio Olympics 2016, as there were no Indian officials present to provide her water and energy drinks at refreshment points and that there were officials from all other countries to provide refreshments to their runners at designated points after every 2.5 km,” a press release from ministry said.
“The Minister of State, Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Vijay Goel has constituted a two-member Committee consisting of Shri Onkar Kedia, Joint Secretary (Sports) and Shri Vivek Narayan, Director (Sports) to enquire into the allegations of Ms OP Jaisha,” the release added.
The release also stated that the two member committee will submit its report in seven days.