LUCKNOW, June 2 -- The state government has decided to immediately crack down on certain state sports associations allegedly charging entry fees from participants in state-level championships, despite these events being fully sponsored by the Uttar Pradesh Sports Directorate. Deputy director (sports), Mudrika Pathak in an order to all the state associations on Friday, stated that some state associations were charging participants in sub-junior, junior, and senior categories entry or registration fees for events sponsored by the Sports Directorate, without issuing any receipts. "Since all expenses of these events are covered by the state government, no association is permitted to charge any fee from the participants; any association found guilty will be denied all government support, including kits, special training camp, train fare and even ground reservations," stated Pathak in the order. It is learnt that for over 40 years, the Uttar Pradesh Sports Directorate has been organising state-level events across all three age categories for both boys and girls, in collaboration with state associations of 14 Olympic disciplines - including hockey, judo, football, kabaddi, table tennis, handball, swimming, volleyball, wrestling, basketball, boxing, athletics and gymnastics- as the state government operates sports hostels only for these disciplines. Despite the government providing free venues, equipment, food, lodging, prizes, playing kits, conveyance, and payments to officials-at an annual expenditure ranging from Rs.2 to Rs.10 lakh-some associations allegedly collect cash fees from participants without issuing any receipts. "It is a wrong practice by some associations to charge fees from the participants when the sports directorate is giving everything to them," said UP sports director RP Singh on Sunday. "How can anyone demand an entry fee when the government is covering all expenses?" "We have no objection when these associations organise their official state championships and charge fees," he added. However, Ravin Kapoor, director of Uttar Pradesh Swimming Association, stated that his association does not charge any fee from the participants in the state events being organised under the scheme 'samanvay'. "For the last 15 years, I don't recall that UP Swimming Association ever charging participants any fees in the events organised in Samanvay scheme. It is out of question, especially when the Sports Directorate is covering all expenses," said Kapoor. He added, "Our role is to provide technical support to the Sports Directorate to ensure the smooth conduct of the events, which aim to select state teams." Uttar Pradesh Olympic Association too has justified the government's action against 'defaulters' sports associations. "Strict action should be taken against those associations, who are charging fees even when the events are being fully sponsored by the sports directorate," UPOA's secretary general Anandeshwar Pandey said on Sunday. "This is a wrong practice and UPOA doesn't support such activities," he added....