Hockey India has removed Sudhir Golla, a support staff member of the Indian men's sub-junior hockey team, from the ongoing national camp in Bhopal following allegations of sexual misconduct, according to reports. The action was taken on 16 May 2026 — the same day India's U-18 team was scheduled to face Australia at home in Bhopal.

What Led to the Removal

Complaints against Golla reportedly emerged from the Eklavya Boys and Girls Hockey Training Centre in Morabadi, Ranchi. A formal complaint was filed with the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs, Jharkhand, alleging neglect of duty and sexual misconduct during his tenure at the Centre of Excellence.

An official order dated 11 May 2026, a copy of which was obtained by The Tribune, confirmed that Golla had already been removed from his position in Ranchi before the Bhopal action. A woman coach has since been appointed to take over his responsibilities at the centre.

Hockey India's Official Statement

Hockey India confirmed the action in a statement to The Tribune. 'Sudhir Golla, who was part of the Indian sub-junior men's hockey team's support staff, has been removed from the coaching camp in Bhopal with immediate effect by HI after it came to the federation's notice that he had been removed from Eklavya Hockey Centre following complaints from players,' the federation stated.

The federation added that athlete safety remains a core commitment. 'Player safeguarding remains a top priority for us, and we are committed to ensuring a safe and secure environment for all athletes,' Hockey India said. Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey could not be reached for comment.

A Pattern of Safeguarding Failures

This incident is reportedly the fourth significant safeguarding concern in Indian hockey in just over six months. In November 2025, the contract of a junior women's hockey coach was not renewed after sexual misconduct allegations surfaced days before the FIH Hockey Junior World Cup 2025 in Santiago, Chile.

A month later, senior women's team coach Harendra Singh resigned after national team members reportedly wrote to the Sports Ministry accusing him of misconduct and questioning his coaching methods. In April 2026, yet another Hockey India staff member faced accusations of sexually harassing women officials and coaches.

Internal Concerns Over Investigations

According to reports, a source within Hockey India acknowledged that the organisation's reputation has suffered due to the string of controversies and alleged shortcomings in conducting proper inquiries. 'We have fallen short when it comes to safeguarding issues. There has not been a proper inquiry held in all previous cases. It seems someone in the federation is trying to protect those who have allegedly committed serious offenses,' the source said.

The repeated incidents have intensified scrutiny on Hockey India's internal governance and its ability to enforce safeguarding protocols consistently. Whether the federation will institute a formal independent review mechanism remains to be seen.