Bhutan Olympic Committee (BOC) has barred Mr Bhutan 2017, Sangay Tsheltrim, for life from representing the country in any international and national competitions associated with BOC and Bhutan Bodybuilding Association.

Executive Committee, the second highest management body constituted for the effective control, policy matter and management of BOC, decided to impose the ban after Sangay Tsheltrim refused to submit apology letter as per the directives of the executive committee.

The committee asked Sangay Tsheltrim to submit an apology letter to BOC for his unsubstantiated allegations and un-sportsmanship like behaviour, following which he would have been barred for one year.

Sangay Tsheltrim is also banned from taking up any managerial, technical or administrative portfolio with bodybuilding associated with BOC and national bodybuilding organisation.

A total of four athletes, Thinley Dorji, Damcho Zam, Sangay Tsheltrim, and Tandin Wangchen from the country took part in the championship in Mongolia. The athletes bagged one gold and two bronze from the championship. All four athletes made to the top five contenders in their respective category.

Sangay Tsheltrim said that the allegations made were based on facts. “I was not given a chance to prove it. The ban does not matter much. I have already said that I won’t be taking part in any national competition.”

He added that the decision applies to the national and international competitions associated with BOC.

He said that bodybuilding is not an Olympic game. “There are other professional leagues in which I can take part. I have been doing this.”

The committee had given Sangay Tsheltrim 10 working days to appeal.

“Mr. Sangay Tsheltrim submitted an apology letter on the 28th of December, 2017 but it was not as per the directives of the executive committee and hence he was provided an additional seven days to submit the apology letter,” the press release stated.

Sangay Tsheltrim said that he apologised for going live on social media and for not following the proper channel.

“I accept the penalty and did not make any issues out of it, although the ban was decided months ago,” he said. “I would never take part in the national championship with the newcomer and amateur athletes. I am a professional. I would also never take part in WBPF, which is the most corrupted federation.”

BOC also met with officials of the Bhutan Bodybuilding and Weightlifting Federation. The federation was segregated into the Bhutan Weightlifting Association and Bhutan Bodybuilding Association.

BOC suspended bodybuilding for a year in the past owing to doping incident.

Nima

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