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'Oly committee warning to cancel accreditation of Goel biggest insult.'

August 12, 2016 21:39 IST

IMAGE: Union Sports Minister Vijay Goel. Photograph: PTI.

Suspended BJP MP Kirti Azad said Rio Olympics Organising Committee's warning that it will cancel the accreditation of Sport Minister Vijay Goel over his alleged violation of protocols is the "biggest insult" to the nation and had brought it a "bad name".

Azad, a former international cricketer, also rejected the Ministry's claim that it was a case of misunderstanding, saying breaking protocols is a way of life for Indian politicians and there is no smoke without fire.

"This is biggest insult to the nation. It has brought a bad name to the nation. It is condemnable. This is sports not politics," he said.

The Lok Sabha member was suspended by the BJP following his relentless attack on Finance Minister Arun Jaitley over alleged corruption in DDCA when he headed it.

He said protocols are set in top sporting events like Olympics and minister cannot enter areas meant for players and coaches.

The Indian contingent in Rio has been left embarrassed after the Organising Committee's Continental Manager Sarah Paterson threatened to cancel the accreditation of Sports Minister Vijay Goel for the "aggressive and rude" behaviour of his entourage in a letter to Chef-de-Mission Rakesh Gupta.

However, the Ministry, in a statement issued on Friday, denied receiving any such complaint either from the Rio OC or the IOA.

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