Para-swimmer Prasanta Karmakar face three-year suspension for video recording female swimmers
Arjuna awardee Para-swimmer Prasanta Karmakar has been suspended for three years by the PCI for recording video of female swimmers last year in an event in Jaipur. The 37-year-old disabled swimmer was the first to represent India and bag a medal at the World Swimming Championship in Argentina.
The incident had taken place last year during the National Para-Swimming Championship held in Jaipur in March when Karmakar was allegedly found recording video of female swimmers. The Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) had then revealed that a written complaint was reported against the star swimmer regarding acts of misconduct, misbehaviour and manhandling.
“He (Karmakar) gave a camera to one of his associates and asked him to make video films of female swimmers during the event. When the parents of those swimmers objected, the person making videos on
“The person was stopped but soon after that, a similar complaint was again received and this time, Prasanta Karmakar was himself making videos of female swimmers with the camera on tripod despite objection from their parents,” the statement further added.
After repeated warnings and asking Karmakar to delete the video, the 2015 Major Dhyan Chand Awardee and 2014 Bheem Awardee kept on arguing as to why his man was stopped from making it, before refusing to delete the video.
“Karmakar was called by Chairman wherein, he, in full anger, asked the Chairman and other office bearers of PCI that why they were stopping his man from making the video on which he was told that the act is being objected to by parents of the swimmers but Karmakar asked the PCI office bearers to show written objections on which the objecting parents immediately submitted their written complaints. Karmakar argued with
He ended up being detained by the police but was released soon after he agreed to delete them. However, the PCI, after suspending him for three years, has now asked the Haryana Sports department to take disciplinary action against Karmakar for his above ‘intentional wrongdoings, misbehaviour and indiscipline’, who was given Swimmer of the Year award in 2009 and 2011.
“Having taken into consideration the act, conduct, behavior, response of Prasanta Karmakar and the gravity of events, Prasanta Karmakar, swimmer, will be suspended and is hereby suspended from participation and his being sponsored in any sports event by PCI for a period of three years w.e.f: 20.01.2018 and recommendations be also made to his employer i.e. Haryana Sports department to take strict disciplinary action against him for his above intentional wrongdoings, misbehavior and indiscipline,” the PCI said.
Karmakar was the first to represent India at the World Swimming Championship in Argentina and win a medal. He was also India’s swimming team coach at the 2016 Rio Paralympic games.