Indian Chess Federation Files Complaint Against Koneru, Threatens Long Ban

The All India Chess Federation has reported the leading Indian female player, Humpy Koneru, to the FIDE Ethics Commission, following the incident in the Commonwealth Championship, reports the newspaper The Hindu. At the Commonwaelth Championship, after confusion between the players and organisers about the time limit, Koneru lost on time in a winning position, and later withdrew from the event, amidst a scandal. 

Later, Humpy gave an interview to the website Chessbase, in which she sharply attacked the organisation both of the Commonwealth Championship itself, and the general level of chess organisation in India. 

Photo - thehindu.com

The Indian Federation accuses the player of multiple breaches of the FIDE Ethics Code, specifically: 
1) failure to sign the scoresheet after the game;
2) withdrawing from the event without good reason and without informing the chief arbiter;
3) making unfounded allegations against officials;
4) bringing the federation into disrepute;
5) "in her interview,  and unjustified allegations, which deliberately seek to damage the reputation of the organisers and the federation, which cannot be allowed to remain without consequences". 

According to The Hindu, if the FIDE commission finds Koneru guilty, sanctions could vary from a simple warning, to serious punishment, such as a fine of up to 25 000 dollars, the loss of FIDE titles, and a ban of up to 15 years. 

Koneru reacted with a comment, sent to the ACP: "It`s painful to read such adverse and annoying statements by my own federation published in "The Hindu". But what I have done is for justice and for respect towards chess players in India. I believe change cannot be achieved without the difficult situations, struggle or the pain. I wish that in future no player should suffer facing such circumstances."

This is not Koneru's first conflict with her home federation. In October 2009 officials (specifically D V Sundar) prevented her father (who trains her and leads her delegation at tournaments) from travelling with her to the Asian Indoor Games. Then too, Koneru published a sharp attack in the press. 

In recent years, she has rarely played in Indian tournaments, but after an interval, she led the national team at the world team championship in Chengdu. 

We would also point out that this is not the first case of sharp actions being taken by a federation against one of its own top players. About a month ago, the Bulgarian federation banned Kiril Georgiev for three years after a scandalous press conference given by the grandmaster.