OP Jaisha water row: 'Report will be ready by next week'

Sports Minister Vijay Goel, on Monday, said that the report on the allegations made by marathon runner O P Jaisha that she was not properly looked after by the Indian officials during the Rio Olympics would be ready by next week.

Goel informed this after unveiling the logo of the forthcoming BRICS U-17 football tournament to be hosted by Goa.

The government on August 23 had constituted a two-member panel, comprising Onkar Kedia, Joint Secretary (Sports) and Vivek Narayan, Director (Sports), to inquire into the allegations of the long-distance runner.

Jaisha, who collapsed at the finish line after completing the grueling 42-km race at last month's Rio Olympics, had alleged that Indian officials were missing at stations erected for participating countries a few kilometers apart so that their competitors could be offered water and refreshment.

Goel said that the report was delayed due to the athlete's unavailability. The two-member panel wanted to seek opinion of experts before submitting the report, the minister said.

Jaisha was earlier indisposed after contracting swine flu.

Athletics Federation of India had denied the allegations by Jaisha, saying that she had told the AFI that she would not need specialised drinks and refreshments during the race and she would use only the normal water provided by the Rio organisers.