Hockey India Disciplinary Committee imposes ban on select players and coaches for breach of code of conduct in the recently played tournaments

April 1, 2014: The Disciplinary Committee of Hockey India today met to discuss the conduct of certain players and coaches on the field and having found them breaching the code of conduct have been imposed with bans which in a way is to help get respect while we play and to avoid further disrepute to the sport.

The ban was imposed after due consideration of the facts presented before the members and hearing of the players and coaches. The Members were of the opinion that such a move will discourage others players from indulging in similar actions in future, and will ensure that they follow the Hockey India Code of Conduct and continue to be role models of the sport.

One such case which took place during match between Uttar Pradesh and Air India in the 4th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship in Lucknow wherein Mr. Devesh Chauhan, player from Uttar Pradesh stated that when he appealed for a foul, international umpire Mr. Sangha used abusive language. This was reported by Devesh Chauhan to Tournament Director, R.V Shelar, though Mr. Shelar later denied any such incident and rather alleged that Devesh Chauhan was doing this to get even with some incident of the past which took place during the Surjit Hockey Tournament. During the meeting today both Mr. Devesh Chauhan and Mr. R.V Shelar did not come for the meeting hence a decision was taken to ban both of them for the next 3 months for making false allegations against each other which in a way does not set a good example for the rest. The ban will be effective 1st April 2014.

In another incident the Disciplinary Committee discussed another case which took place during 4th Hockey India Women National Championship in Mysore in regards to the behavior and misconduct of International Umpire Anupama Puchimanda. A ban of two months was imposed on her effective 1st April and this decision was arrived at basis the incident which took place before the semi-final match when she did not agree to wear the designated colour t-shirt and plus in the same match she tried dominating her co-umpire during the entire session giving decisions on behalf of her colleague umpire. Also post the tournament ended she left Mysore before informing anyone. As the case went against her she was imposed with the ban.

Ms. Anupama Puchimanda will also be on probation for a period of one year fromJune 1, 2014 and any repeat incident of such nature will immediately result in another ban of one year from the date of that incident.

In another decision all the 18 Members of the Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy women’s team have been banned for a period of one month beginning April 1, 2014 for walking off the field for 40-50 seconds and returned to the filed post getting a warning from technical table. This incident took place on March 20, 2014 during their match against Hockey Odisha in the 4th Hockey India Senior Women National Championship at Bhopal.

Mr. Paramjit Singh, Coach along with the Ms. Usha Nimbalkar, Team Manager are banned for two months for breaching Hockey India code of conduct by walking off the field. The ban will be effective from April 1, 2014.  Mr. Paramjit Singh and Ms. Usha Nimbalkar will also be on probation for a period of one year from October 1, 2014 and any repeat incident of such nature will immediately result in another ban of one year from the date of that incident.

All the above will each have a chance to appeal against the decision within 30 days with an appeal to Hockey India Athletes Dispute & Grievance Redressal Committee.