Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB) made a good move by conducting a League tournament for the National Pool players to expose them for competition.
However, as many a badminton tournament has not been completed without controversy and indiscipline, it is now being alleged that some teenage players had consumed liquor during the night in the presence of a coach.
An investigation by the Sunday Observer had revealed that the two players were from the outstations and the coach had allegedly procured Rs. 10,000 from each of their parents to lodge the boys in Colombo. But the father of one of the boys on hearing of the incident had lodged an official complaint with the sport’s governing body. Now SLB is in the process of enlisting a retired Police officer to conduct investigations and the Sunday Observer also learns that the coach is to face a disciplinary inquiry. A former national player told the Sunday Observer that the consumption of liquor by national players is nothing new.
“Even female players join the men and consume liquor during the night on days of the tournament. This is wholesome indiscipline that has to be rooted out,” he said.
He blamed SLB for leaving room for such acts of indiscipline to become part and parcel of the sport.