LUCKNOW, Jan. 31 -- Almost after enjoying power for the eight consecutive terms, long-serving secretary general of Uttar Pradesh Olympic Association (UPOA), Anandeshwar Pandey will step down from his post by June 20 this year in accordance with an advisory on alignment of constitutions and bye-laws with the National Sports Governance Act, 2025 in conformity with the principle of Olympic charter. The advisory issued by the Indian Olympic Association on 20th of this month, clearly states that all member National Sports Federations (NSFs) and State Olympic Associations (SOAs) are advised to undertake a comprehensive review of their constitutions, memoranda, and bye-laws, as per the guidelines of the National Sports Governance Act, 2025. The advisory (in possession of HT) states all the NSFs and SOAs are required to complete the process of amendment, adoption and ratification of their revised constitution and bye-laws within a period of six months from the date of issuance of this advisory. "The duly adopted documents must thereafter be submitted to the IOA for record and for the purpose of ensuring consistency with the principles of Olympic charter and applicable national legislation," states Raghuram Iyer, chief executive office of IOA in the advisory. Only last March, Pandey, who also happens to be the secretary-general of the Uttar Pradesh Handball Association also the executive director of Handball India, was elected as UPOA's secretary-general for the eighth consecutive time after being elected on the post for the first time in 1995. "Everyone has to abide by the law of the land and as per the provisions of the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, I will be stepping down from my post by June 20th this year," Anandeshwear Pandey told HT exclusively on Friday. "I have been working for the betterment of sports and sportspersons of Uttar Pradesh for the last 30 years. I will continue to work further even after official retirement as sports is my lifeline and I have worked for it selflessly throughout my life," said Pandey, 74. He also said as per the advisory, now UPOA will have a team of officials of 15 instead of the current set of 25 when the new elections take place before June 20 even though the elections were already due to be held in March 2027. "UPOA will accept all guidelines of the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, but I am unsure about the practical implications of its rules and regulations. There is plenty of ambiguity in this and the proper implementation of its guidelines even at the state level seem difficult," added Pandey. The veteran sports administrator, who served as the treasurer of the IOA in the past and has been a regular to many Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games around the world, said a state like Uttar Pradesh lacks a proper planning for the development of sports and the sportspersons. "There is an urgent need to support sports associations/organisations at the district level. These associations/organisations both at district and state levels should be given a financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh per month for the proper development of sports activities," he said, adding, "Sportspersons, who have represented Uttar Pradesh in Asian Games, CWG and Olympics should be posted as deputy sports officers and sports officers in every districts of the state."...