Observing that sports bodies are "in the doldrums" as they are being controlled by businessmen and politicians, Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh on Saturday said only those sportspersons who have represented their respective states should be allowed to become the members.

"I have been holding this view since 1980s when a new Sports Policy was brought in by Rajivji (former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi)," Digvijay told PTI here.

His comments came against the backdrop of former cricketer Bishen Singh Bedi losing the election for the presidency of the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) by a huge margin to Sneh Prakash Bansal recently.

"Hockey, IOA and other sports bodies are in the doldrums. I have scrupulously avoided getting in these sports bodies despite the fact that I have been a sportsman; and had represented my university in hockey, cricket, squash and tennis and played squash at national level," the AICC general secretary said.