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NEW DELHI: The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has introduced a new rule that directly affects how track and field athletes deal with sponsors. From now on, athletes must take permission from AFI before signing any sponsorship or endorsement deals, especially with private companies.Explaining the move, the federation, as quoted by news agency PTI, said, “… keeping in mind the best interests of athletes and sponsors, AFI has made it mandatory for athletes to obtain prior approval from the Athletics Federation of India before entering into any agreement or contractual arrangement with any sponsor or third party.”
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The decision comes after several cases where athletes and even coaches were frequently switching sponsors. AFI added, “This requirement has been introduced in view of the increasing instances of athletes and coaches frequently changing sponsors. The objective is to safeguard the interests of both athletes and sponsors.”Officials have also instructed state units and coaches to inform all athletes about this change. Sponsors, too, have been told to verify with AFI before finalising any deal, with the body promising confirmation within three days.
This step also reflects how Indian athletics has been evolving. After the Paris 2024 Olympics, AFI reduced centralised training camps and now mainly conducts camps for relay teams.Most top athletes now train under private organisations like Reliance Foundation, JSW Sports, or government institutions such as the Army and Navy. With multiple sponsors and training setups involved, AFI wants better control and clarity in agreements.If anything, the rule aims to bring stability and transparency, ensuring smoother relationships between athletes, sponsors, and the federation.
