New Delhi: The Union of Indian Universities, already under the scanner over alleged financial and administrative irregularities, is now facing allegations of a potentially much bigger scam related to the certification of players, with AIU president Vinay Kumar Pathak alleging that deserving university athletes have been denied recognition and opportunities for years through systemic manipulation within the administration.Pathak, who initiated disciplinary action following the controversy over India’s participation in the 2025 Fédération Internationale du Sport Universitaire (FISU) World University Games in Germany, claimed that vested interests were opposing efforts to clean up the system. “This action has shaken up the corrupt practices. There is a need for further investigation into the certification scam, which has kept meritorious sportspersons away from Indian universities for a long time,” Pathak told TOI.Immediate disciplinary proceedings were initiated against AIU Joint Secretary Baljit Singh Sekhon, who was suspended for lapses related to the World University Games. In a memorandum dated 13 April, the AIU had said that the selected athletes, “including six badminton players and some athletics participants” were not included in the official entry list within the stipulated deadline, leading to denial of recognition despite traveling to the venue and being excluded from the competition.The memorandum described the episode as reflecting “gross negligence, lack of due diligence and failure to discharge assigned responsibilities”. An investigative committee later concluded that Sekhon “is responsible for most aspects of the mismanagement reported at FISU WUG 2025” and cited “negligence in duties, failure to discharge duties, breach of responsibility, irresponsibility, carelessness, failure to act, lapse in judgment”.The scope of the investigation extended beyond procedural flaws in the games. The committee recommended vigilance investigation into “suspicious financial credit transactions” and investigation into foreign travel undertaken by officials in the last two years. Pathak said the investigation has exposed deep institutional irregularities.In a letter to the Additional Chief Secretary of Haryana in connection with a PIL alleging serious violations of bylaws and challenging his continuation as AIU president, Pathak said he launched a clean-up drive soon after assuming office and constituted high-level committees to probe “deep institutional irregularities”.According to the letter, disciplinary action was taken following the findings of these committees, including dismissal of Gaurav Rai, sending Binu George Varghese back to his parent institution and suspending Sekhon pending investigation. Pathak alleged that the PIL was part of a vindictive attempt to derail the disciplinary proceedings. He argued that the Education Ministry’s status quo order applied not only to the post of the President but also to the General Council and other AIU bodies during the restructuring phase, yet only the continuity of the President was targeted.The panel also recommended professionalization of youth affairs and sports administration, structured collaboration with the Sports Ministry and Sports Authority of India and promotion of inter-university leagues and international participation programmes. “If the certification and selection over the past few years is properly examined, many shocking facts may emerge,” Pathak said.