Rowing Federation of India lifts two-year suspension on Rower Dattu Bhokanal
- On 23 January 2020, the Rowing Federation of India (RFI) removed the two-year ban imposed on 2018 Asian Games gold medallist rower and Olympian Dattu Baban Bhokanal, after the intervention of the Indian Olympic Association President Narinder Batra.
- Bhokanal’s ban, which was imposed on April 30, 2019, was set to end on April 30, 2021.
- Now India’s top rower, Bhokanal will be able to participate in the Olympic Qualification Regatta to be held at Chungju, South Korea from April 27-30, 2020.
Sports Ministry derecognise RFI
- The RFI itself has been derecognized by the Union Sports Ministry on 21 January 2020 for violating the 2011 Sports Code during its elections in December 2019.
- The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has been tasked with forming a committee to discharge the functions of the rowing body.