Paralympic Committee of India suspended by IPC for gross mismanagement

India, who's team is pictured at the Opening Ceremony of London 2012, risk missing Rio 2016 after being banned by the IPC ©AFP/Getty Images

India has been suspended by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) following a catalogue of problems and conflicts between different groups and individuals.

The suspension, the third handed out to the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) since its formation in 1992, is for an indefinite period of time and will only be lifted if clear improvement is made.

This follows a multitude of problems, particularly at the National Para-Athletics Championships in Ghaziabad, where athletes were reportedly accommodated in uncompleted buildings and without access to drinking water and toilets.

PCI President Rajesh Tomar has already been suspended after heavy criticism throughout the Asian nation, with the IPC having now intervened.

"We regret to have had to take that decision,” said IPC chief executive Xavier Gonzalez in a letter sent to the PCI, widely reported in the Indian press.

“However, the situation in the PCI has been chaotic for several years now which is mostly due to individual conflicts at the national level between different groups and persons.

“The situation does not bring any positive outcome for the athletes."

This action has also been accompanied by a threat of de-recognition by the Indian Ministry of Youth and Sports, due to a lack of “accountability and transparency” and action fitting of a “professional manner”.

London 2012 silver medal winning high jumper Girisha Nagarajegowda could face missing out on Rio 2016 following the ban on India ©Getty Images

This follows several complaints made to the Government department about the conduct of recent events, most of which had been only possible due to funding from the Ministry.

As well as Tomar, four more officials have now been suspended, including vice-president Nale Nand Kishore and joint secretary M Madhusa Srinivasa Rao.

The problems follow similar setbacks experienced by the Indian Olympic Association in recent years, for whom an 18-month suspension from the International Olympic Committee ended in February 2014.

Like at the Olympic level, India has long underachieved at the Paralympic Games, and at London 2012 F42 high jumper Girisha Nagarajegowda's silver medal was their only podium finish of the Games.

They now face the prospect of not competing at Rio 2016, as well as at major events this year, including next month’s International Blind Sport Federation World Games in Seoul.

A PCI General Assembly is due to be held on May 18, it has been reported, at which solutions will be sought, while next month's planned Open Para Games in Delhi has also been postponed indefinitely as a result of the problems.