ISLAMABAD: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has taken a serious notice of alleged harassment and assault of a women hockey player in Pakistan and has asked the concern authorities to furnish all the details of this serious incident for further deliberation and necessary action. The News has learnt exclusively that IOC has taken up the matter with the National Olympic Committee in Pakistan following reports published and aired (print and electronic media) that a women hockey player was assaulted by the team manager (Saeed Khan) at the conclusion of training camp in October. Though Saeed Khan denied allegations, the women hockey player came in public (on TV channels and print media), accusing the manager of assault on the night of October 8. The women player also wrote to Punjab Sports Minister Jahangir Khanzada requesting for necessary action against the official. The matter now becomes even serious as IOC has stepped in asking the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) to investigate the matter and report back to the custodian of all Olympic sports. The IOC had adopted concrete measures first in 2006 and then in 2016 to discourage such assaults or exploitation of women folk in the field of sports. The IOC rules regarding the harassment of players, binds the concern Olympic Committee to look into the matter-grill the concern officials or the federation involved and report the matter back after investigating it thoroughly. The IOC has made it pertinent to all respective NOC’s to make sure that the player who has accused official/officials of harassment is given proper hearing. The IOC has given full authority to the concern Olympic Association to take the matter directly in its own hands if it (NOC) deems it necessary that the respective federation is trying to hush up the matter or is making attempt to influence findings. In the case of women hockey player, the IOC has asked its subordinate body in Pakistan to investigate the matter using all the authorities bestowed upon them by the IOC Charter. Since hockey is one of important Olympic sports, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) is bound to follow all rules and regulations of IOC in letter and spirit.
