Chandigarh (Haryana) [India], June 8 (NT): The Haryana Sports and youth affairs department has asked its sports-persons to leave one-third of their income earned from professional sports or commercial endorsements to the Haryana State Sports Council as ANI reported.

According to an official notice, the amount will be used for development of sports in the state.

"One-third of the income earned by sports-persons from professional sports or commercial endorsements will be deposited with the Haryana State Sports Council. The money shall be used for the development of sports in the state," the notification reveled by ANI read.

It further noted that athletes who are employed in any department of the state government or any other government bodies participating in professional sports or commercial endorsements will be conferred extraordinary leave without pay.

The circular also said that in case the "sportsperson is treated on duty with prior approval of the competent authority while taking part in professional sports or commercial endorsements, the full income earned by the sportsperson on this account will be deposited with Haryana State Sports Council."

Does the government even realize how much of hard work a sportsperson puts in? How can they ask for one-third of the income? I do not support this at all. Govt should've at least discussed it with us: Wrestler Babita Phogat told to ANI on Haryana govt's notification .

This policy should be reviewed. Govt should establish a committee of senior sportspersons & take their input before forming a policy of this type. This will affect the morale of sportspersons & might affect their performance as well: Sushil Kumar, on Haryana Govt's notification

This is not the first time when the Haryana government has courted a controversy.

It is to be recalled that 22 athletes from the state won medals at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April this year. However, the function to felicitate them was called off as the players threatened a walkout over the state government's proposal to take a cut of their prize money. (NT)