Jharkhand state commissioner for persons with disabilities Satish Chandra has directed Special Olympics Jharkhand to submit for scrutiny the certificates of two special athletes selected in the Indian team for World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi from March 14 to 21.

Chandra, who shot off a mail to Special Olympics Jharkhand late on Tuesday, said he acted on a complaint by state disability advisory board member Arun Kumar Singh, who alleged Jamshedpur-based badminton players Rohit Nag, 24, and Monika Mahto, 23, were deaf-mute. Singh pointed out deaf-mute participants were ineligible for Special Olympics where participants had to be intellectually impaired.

This comes shortly after Tata Steel gave a warm send-off to the Jharkhand contingent, including Rohit and Monika, who are bound for Abu Dhabi. The contingent is leaving for a Delhi camp on Thursday. But Chandra has now asked for a probe into the mental retardation certificates of Rohit and Monika. If the scrutiny reveals something wrong, the duo would be called back from Delhi.

“I asked Special Olympics Jharkhand for the list of state players selected in the national team and mental retardation certificates of the two (Rohit and Monika). I asked them (Special Olympics Jharkhand) to submit the papers in 24 hours. We will check if their certificates are genuine,” Chandra said from Ranchi.

Chandra promised action against Special Olympics Jharkhand if needed. Medals won by deaf-mute athletes would have to be returned too.

On Wednesday, a few parents of intellectually impaired athletes also submitted a complaint to East Singhbhum DC Amit Kumar, asking him to look into the alleged “unhealthy practice” of selecting hearing-impaired players for state and national teams.

Board member Singh, who made the original complaint, said he should not be misunderstood. “Let me be clear, I am not against deaf-mute players but against the functioning of Special Olympics Jharkhand. Special Olympics Bharat rules say only intellectually impaired athletes are eligible for national and international competitions,” he added.

Both Rohit and Monika have competed in national competitions organised by All India Council for the Deaf, Singh, also Jharkhand Viklang Manch president, said. “But now they are part of the national team for Abu Dhabi Games, exclusively meant for mentally challenged athletes,” he said.

Special Olympics Jharkhand assistant area director Satbir Singh Sahota said they sent Rohit and Monika for national camps based on their certificates of mental retardation. “Both were selected by Special Olympics Bharat. The certificates were issued by East Singhbhum district civil surgeon. How can we challenge the certificates?” he asked.