• Says bodybuilders in a state of apathy   

Sri Lanka Bodybuilding Federation (SLBF) Head Randeer Rodrigo alleged that officials from his federation had toiled in vain to secure an audience with incumbent Sports Minister Sunil Kumara, since August this year.

He charged that officials from certain sports associations who arrive at the Sports Ministry premises at Torrington Square for official work, have been reduced to carrying out the duties of peons and allegedly given step-motherly treatment.

He made these revelations during a media briefing convened in Colombo last week, ahead of the Mr. Sri Lanka Meet which was held at the Golden Star Beach Hotel in Negombo, on Sunday (21).

Rodrigo also alleged that though the Sports Ministry has sought annual estimates from the SLBF for overseas meets, they had failed to allocate sufficient funds over the same.

He pointed out that inability to disburse adequate funds by the Sports Ministry had forced six bodybuilders and trainers to opt out of the World Meet held in Saudi Arabia last month.

He further alleged that the Sports Ministry had only consented to provide airfare for the athletes for the competition in Riyadh.

Rodrigo emphasised that such conduct on the part of the Ministry, had compelled some deserving athletes to withdraw from the event, which he termed as further tainting the sporting image of the country.

“I really cannot fathom why this step-motherly treatment is meted out to the bodybuilders by this Minister,” the SLBF head questioned.

“It is either he is terribly averse to bodybuilders, or it could be some other reason which we are unaware of. For the past four months we have been seeking a discussion with the subject Minister, but to no avail.”

Asked whether the attitude as alleged by the SLBF was confined solely to them, its head was unsure about the rest, but was willing to vouch for their plight.

“I can only speak about the shoddy treatment that has been given to us. I can’t talk about the others because I am not aware of it and it will be unfair for me to do so. But, as far as we are concerned, this is the predicament faced by us.”

Rodrigo also spoke unfavourably of the Minister’s reluctance to sign certificates of bodybuilders who had competed at the National Bodybuilding Championships recently.

He insisted that such attitude towards sportsmen by the Minister concerned has left athletes both disillusioned and in a state of apathy.

Efforts made by The Daily Morning Sports to contact Minister Sunil Kumara for his views on the issue proved unsuccessful.