US lawmakers call for allowing Sikh players sporting turban

Washington, August 24

A bipartisan group of more than 40 US lawmakers have appealed to the International Basketball Federation to end an “outdated and discriminatory” policy against Sikh players over turbans.

"Sikhs participate in a wide variety of sports around the globe and there has never been a single instance of someone being harmed or injured by a turban, or of a turban interfering with the sport," Congressmen said in a letter to Horacio Muratori, President of the Federation Internationale de Basketball (FIBA) or International Basketball Federation.

Led by Congressman Joe Crowley, who is Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus, and Ami Bera, the only Indian-American Member of the Congress, yesterday's letter signed by over 40 lawmakers comes ahead of the expected decision by the international body. — PTI