Why AFI wants to vet athletes’ contracts with sponsors
Indian Express·4h ago·Neutral
What Happened
The Athletic Federation of India mandated athletes obtain federation approval before signing commercial contracts. The move aims to protect athletes from unfavorable terms lacking exit clauses and prevent sponsors from losing athletes to rivals. Stakeholders including JSW Sports and ONGC Sports were notified. While AFI emphasizes athlete welfare, institute leaders argue the federation should collaborate rather than dictate. Disputes arise from bidding wars between sponsors, athletes frequently switching commitments, and unqualified agents negotiating deals.
Key Entities
Athletic Federation of India (AFI)Reliance Foundation Youth SportsJSW SportsONGC SportsAdille SumariwallaManisha MalhotraInspire Institute of SportWorld Athletics