Badminton World Federation suspends Maldives

Badminton World Federation (BWF) has suspended Maldives for allegedly interfering in the affairs of the national Olympic committee and the office of the sports commissioner.

Miharu has received a copy of the letter sent by the BWF to the Maldives Olympic Committee (MOC), which outlines the federation’s concerns.

According to the letter, BWF took issue with the MOC and the sports commissioner’s involvement in a committee set up to address problems within the national badminton association.

The term of the association’s executive committee expired on 11 March last year, but no elections were held, nor was its constitution amended.

To resolve this, BWF supported the creation of a joint committee comprising a representative of the association, a member of the MOC, and an executive committee member. However, the MOC later sought to add two more members including a lawyer and a badminton figure to the panel.

BWF said it had requested the committee approve the additions and make decisions through consultation rather than voting. But the MOC went ahead and appointed both members unilaterally. One was openly critical of the sitting executive, raising concerns about impartiality.

The BWF also objected to the MOC’s decision to shift to a voting-based structure, arguing it opened the door to undue influence.

Following this, MOC dissolved the committee and, on the advice of the sports commissioner, set up a three-member ad hoc body. According to BWF, this move breached its regulations.

The new committee, which included association members, was tasked with revising internal procedures and organizing fresh elections. It was given 45 days to complete its work and hand over control to a newly elected executive committee.

The sports ministry had earlier revoked the association’s national status, citing its failure to cooperate with repeated efforts to resolve internal disputes and hold elections. Officials said the ongoing dysfunction had harmed not just administrators but players as well.

The association then attempted to hold elections without amending its regulations as instructed by sports commissioner Mohamed Tholal. He ordered a halt to the vote until the issues were addressed. A key complaint was that over 100 votes had been allocated to unregistered badminton development centres.

Meanwhile, the association’s then president, Moosa Nashid, faced allegations of corruption. The Anti-Corruption Commission searched his sports goods store and other premises linked to him.

Moosa stepped down in July after his term lapsed, but he is still accused of exerting influence over the association.