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NEW DELHI : The Association of Indian Universities, already under the scanner over alleged financial and administrative irregularities, is now facing accusations of a potentially much larger scandal involving certification of sportspersons, with AIU president Vinay Kumar Pathak alleging that deserving university athletes may have been denied recognition and opportunities for years through systemic manipulation within the administration.Pathak, who initiated disciplinary action after the controversy surrounding India’s participation in the 2025 Fédération Internationale du Sport Universitaire (FISU) World University Games in Germany, claimed that entrenched interests were resisting efforts to clean up the system.“This action has shaken up corrupt practices. There is a need for further investigation into the certification scam which has deprived meritorious sportspersons from Indian universities for long,” Pathak told TOI .The immediate trigger was disciplinary proceedings launched against suspended AIU joint secretary Baljit Singh Sekhon over lapses linked to the World University Games. In a memorandum dated April 13, the AIU had stated that selected athletes, “including six badminton players and certain athletics participants”, were not included in official entry lists within prescribed timelines, leading to denial of accreditation and exclusion from competition despite travelling to the venue. The memorandum described the episode as reflecting “gross negligence, lack of due diligence and failure to discharge assigned responsibilities”.An inquiry committee later concluded that Sekhon “bear(s) responsibility for most aspects of the reported mismanagement in the FISU WUG 2025” and cited “dereliction of duties, failure to discharge duties, breach of responsibility, nonfeasance, negligence, failure to act, lapse in judgement”.The inquiry also widened beyond procedural lapses at the games. The committee recommended vigilance scrutiny of “suspicious financial credit transactions” and examination of foreign travel undertaken by officials over the previous two years.Pathak maintained that the probe had exposed deeper institutional irregularities.In a communication to the Haryana additional chief secretary regarding a PIL alleging serious violation of bye-laws and challenging his continuation as AIU president, Pathak said he launched a clean-up drive immediately after assuming office and constituted highlevel committees to investigate “deep-rooted institutional irregularities”.According to the letter, disciplinary action followed the findings of these committees, including termination of Gaurav Rai, repatriation of Binu George Varghese to his parent institution, and suspension of Sekhon pending inquiry.Pathak alleged the PIL was part of a retaliatory attempt to derail disciplinary action. He argued that the education ministry’s status quo order applied not only to the president’s position but also to the General Council and other AIU bodies during the restructuring phase, yet only the president’s continuation was targeted.The panel also recommended professionalisation of youth affairs and sports governance, structured collaboration with the sports ministry and Sports Authority of India, and promotion of inter-university leagues and international participation programmes.“If a proper probe is carried out into certifications and selections over the years, many shocking facts may emerge,” Pathak said.
