Fate of Bangalore marathon hanging in the balance

Fate of Bangalore marathon hanging in the balance
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: The Bangalore marathon is in danger of being cancelled - as far as it is officially concerned.

Speaking to the this website's newspaper from Delhi, Lalit Bhanot, the secretary-general of the Athletics Federation of India, said that he has “refused to give permission for the marathon scheduled to be held on Sept 17 as the Indian Open is scheduled to be held in Delhi on the same day.

“The Karnataka Athletics Association (KAA) secretary Satyanarayana has faxed a letter to me today seeking permission. But I have refused to give the same,” Lalit said.

“They cannot ask for permission as and when they want. There is a time for everything. First, they must deposit the fee of Rs 10 lakh plus 10 percent of the prize money that is to be given. That too, within a specified time before they begin preparations. The event is scheduled for Sunday and they ask for permission on Thursday? How can we give it to them?” reasoned Bhanot.

“The AFI has set some guidelines and everyone has to follow them,” Bhanot said. Asked what can be the consequences if the event is held without the AFI’s nod, Bhanot said that the AFI will inform everyone that the marathon is unauthorised and anyone taking part can be liable for suspension.

“If the KAA is organising the event directly, we will serve them a show-cause notice and initiate action against them as per the constitution. If any other organisers are involved, we will ask the KAA to blacklist them and not associate with them in any activity in future. In any case, we will do our best to inform the participants and the people that the event is not permitted and no one should be involved with it,” Bhanot signed off.

Satyanarayana reiterated that if the parent body does not give the green signal, “the KAA will not be involved with the event”.