MK Kaushik - Indian Women Hockey Team Coach In Sex Scandal
The Times of India reported Wednesday that an anonymous letter written to India's Sports Ministry made allegations of misconduct against Kaushik involving junior players during a tour.
India's women's hockey team coach Mr. Kaushik said that he has resigned to clear his name after a player accused him and some of his staff of sexually harassing her. His departure is a blow to India's prospects at next month's World Cup in Argentina because he was seen as instrumental to raising the team's level of performance.
The Indian Women’s hockey team has not been having a few good years. In 2009, the team’s sponsor, City Limouzines (India) Ltd., was tarnished by serious fraud allegations, money laundering and corruption charges. Then in early 2010, the team protested over not having receiving their salaries for the last few months. The latest scandal to hit the team is the fact that the team’s coach has been accused of sexually harassing several women players. It seems the women’s hockey team will have to be seriously overhauled, and the allegations will have to be seriously addressed, in order for hockey to get back on track in India.
Kaushik resignation came on the day Hockey India said it was setting up a panel to investigate the allegation brought by one player against the coach and other support staff.
"I am innocent and her allegations are baseless. She did it out of frustration after she was dropped from the side," Kaushik told reporters. "I have submitted my resignation to (the) HI president because the incident damaged my image."
HI president Vidya Stokes told reporters an assistant coach will take charge of the team for the Asian Champions Trophy in Busan, South Korea, this month.
Kaushik, a member of India's 1980 Moscow Olympic gold medal-winning men's hockey team, met HI officials overnight (NZ time) where he tendered his resignation.
"Hopefully, the panel will give its recommendations before next month's World Cup so that we can either get a new coach or reinstate Kaushik if he is found innocent," HI secretary Narinder Batra said.
The federation said it had suspended a member of the team's support staff after receiving evidence he had been involved with prostitutes.
