New Delhi, April 29: KPS Gill's 15-year tenure as the hockey boss came to an unceromonius end with the Indian Olympic Association on Monday removing him by suspending the IHF and appointing an ad-hoc committee, headed by former Olympian Aslam Sher Khan.

The "unanimous" decision to suspend IHF was taken at an emergency meeting called by the IOA following the sting operation which caught secretary K Jothikumaran purportedly accepting bribe to select a player in the national team.

The ad-hoc committee will have hockey greats such as Ashok Kumar, Dhanraj Pillay, Ajit Pal Singh and Zafar Iqbal as the other members.

"It is a painful decision that we made today.

But it had to be taken since there were corruption allegations.

We have taken the decision after discussions with former Olympians, captains and all those who have played for India," IOA President Suresh Kalmadi told a packed press conference.

"Gill was there (meeting) throughout.

It was a unanimous decision and no one spoke against it.

We have great respect for KPS Gill and it is not personal.

"Jothikumaran did not come unfortunately, we wanted to hear him.

It was an opportunity for him to present his case," he said.

Meanwhile, Sports Minister M S Gill on Tuesday welcomed the Indian Olympic Association's (IOA) decision to disband the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), saying such a step was "necessary" in the given situation.

"The decision regarding the Indian Hockey Federation, taken last evening by the Executive Committee of the IOA, was necessary," Gill said in a statement.

"It was a unanimous decision and in my judgment appropriate in the given situation.

I have carefully noted the composition of the new Selection Committee.

I would hope that they work in unison, and for the best interest of the hockey and youth of India," he added, referring to the new selection committee comprising former Olympians.

"In my judgment, it will also be necessary, to have a compact, well chosen and efficient new administration for the IHF.

I am confident the IOA will address this".

The minister had asked IHF chief KPS Gill to step down after the bribe scandal involving IHF secretary K Jothikumaran.

M S Gill said the Sports Ministry had approved the laying of 12 new astroturfs in the country, a project which will cost Rs 42 crore.

Locations for new Astroturfs include Singpura (J&K) and tribal pockets like Rajnandgaon (Chhattisgarh), Hazaribagh (Jharkhand) and Kokrajhar (Assam).

In another eight places, the work for establishment of astroturf is at different stages of completion.

Besides, the work relating to replacement of old astroturfs at NIS Patiala and Kolkata is underway.

The proposal for setting up of another four astro-turfs is also in the pipeline, he said.

By the end of 2009, India will have 30 Astroturfs spread across the country for the promotion of hockey.

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