Letter from BWF viewed as progress towards reforming BAM, not a warning: Tholal

Commissioner of Sports, Mohamed Tholal has declared that the letter delivered to Maldives Olympic Committee (MOC) by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) is not viewed as a warning but progress in the work to reform the association.

Commissioner of Sports Mohamed Tholal was recently appointed to oversee the running of Badminton Association of Maldives (BAM) whose last elected ExCo term has now ended.

BWF, in the letter, had appealed to revise the decision, also sharing that deliberations are underway between MOC and BAM's ExCo to establish a three-member ad hoc committee for organizing the re-elections at year end.

Tholal asserted that BAM exchanged information with BWF without sufficient clarifications on the reality of the situation. There are no challenges impeding inception of the ad hoc committee for the association, he added, elaborating that he had personally proposed a five-member committee as opposed to a three-member one.

"There are no barriers to establishing the ad hoc committee being compiled by BWF, however, I believe a five-member committee instead of three would be more feasible," he shared.

Undeterred by outside influences, he has been working with integrity to align the association with protocols authorizing an election, said Tholal, who also once served the Olympic Committee as its Vice President. He further underscored that BAM's current protocols allows the presiding executive committee to intervene, disclosing that repeated appeals to revise its governing framework had fell short.

This was in reference to a policy allowing a representative from each badminton development center under BAM to cast ballots for the number of players registered at the respective centers.

"Despite multiple appeals to amend the policy because there are issues with ballot count, no cooperation was returned by the association (BAM). Similarly, the association's election was also not held despite orders to do so. The association had also not requested to extend their term despite their executive committee's term now having expired," recalled Tholal.

Asserting that the running of BAM was conferred the council excluding re-election procedures, he revealed that BAM is also fully aware of the fact.

"Regardless, BAM had very much deceived BWF about ongoing procedures and truth of the situation. And the case filed at court also has similar elements of deception."

BAM had lodged an appeal against Tholal's decision at the court as well.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner expressed that the letter received from BWF is not viewed as a warning but progress in efforts to resolve rooted issues within the association.

"I do not believe there is a warning in the letter sent to Olympic Committee by MWF. A word from them is progress towards the ongoing work to reform the badminton association," Tholal stated.

He further ensured cooperation from the Sports Commissioner's Office towards any decisions reached by MOC and BWF after ongoing deliberations.

"I have no intention to obstruct or challenge any decision of BWF. Compiling the committee according to agreements between MOC and BWF and any objectives for the good of badminton will receive full support," he assured.

Tholal also clarified that the association's management was conferred to the sports council in order to proceed all administrative works essential to revive the association which - after involvement in several cases alongside increased complaints lodged by athletes and the badminton community - is now in a dire state.

The preceding administrative committee of the association had not offered any cooperation to resolving these issues, he had further shared.