The Odisha government on Thursday came down heavily on ace sprinter Dutee Chand for trying to create an impression that she was not getting support from it in her preparation for the Tokyo Olympics and that she was forced to put her BMW car on sale to finance her training.

The state government said it had spent nearly Rs 4.09 crore on the training of Dutee in the last five years. The government also said it has given her a job in one of its public undertakings but exempted her from official work so that she can focus on preparations for the Tokyo Games, now scheduled for 2021.

The government was forced to issue a statement after Dutee wrote on social media that she was selling her BMW car as she needed funds to prepare for the Olympics. Though she later deleted the post, it created a stir among sports lovers and put the government on the backfoot.

“I want to sell my BMW car. If anyone wants to buy, contact me on messenger,” she had posted.

Dutee needs around Rs 4 lakh every month for training in the state; when abroad, around Rs 10 lakh per month.

In a statement on Thursday, the Odisha sports and youth services department said, “A total of Rs 4.09 crore has been given to Dutee since 2015.” While Rs 3 crore was given as financial incentive for the medal won at the 2018 Asian Games, a sum of Rs 30 lakh was allocated towards her training and financial support during 2015-19. “Rs 50 lakhs for training support for Tokyo Olympics (released in two instalments on 02.08. 2019 and 27.12 2019),” the statement said.

The statement added: “The state government has appointed Ms. Dutee Chand as Group-A level officer in Odisha Mining Corporation (a gold category PSU). She is currently drawing a gross salary of Rs 84,604 (June 2020 salary) per month. She is not required to come to office so that she is able to concentrate full-time on training. Accordingly, since her appointment in OMC, no official work has been allotted to Ms Chand.”

The state government said that “OMC provided Rs 29 lakh to Ms Dutee Chand for training and financial incentives. The total financial support provided to Dutee from State government and OMC is Rs 4.09 crore (after 2015).”

Dutee denied that she had ever said she was selling the car to fund her training. “I have three cars. I brought the BMW in 2018 from Hyderabad. Since I cannot go anywhere due to the lockdown, I decided to sell it. That is why I posted that message on social media. I never thought it would create such a controversy. I have postponed the sale of my car,” she told The Telegraph.

She added on social media: “I don’t have the resources to maintain luxury cars, though I love them. I am not able to use the car and it is a spendthrift expense on my part. I never expressed that I am selling it to fund my training.

“Odisha government and my own KIIT University have always supported me. This does not deny the fact that my training is very expensive, especially for the 2021 Olympics. I just wanted to make a point that this money could be diverted for my training and a car can be bought post-COVID once I receive the money from the state government.”

“My salary from OMC is Rs 60,000, not 80,000. I am not complaining. Buying a car can definitely wait. KIIT University, my alma mater, has stood with me in all my difficulties. I just did not want to be a burden on KIIT or Odisha Government. Not that I live in deprivation or lack of resources, but selling the car could give me breathing space and not burden the overwhelmed KIIT and Odisha Government who are all stretched to help in these testing times,” she said.