Modern Pentathlon request for full NOC membership mired
The National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Sri Lanka has deferred granting full membership to the Modern Pentathlon Federation of Sri Lanka (MPFSL), citing the federation’s failure to meet the required criteria to develop the sport in line with international and Olympic standards.
In a letter dated August 14, 2025 and addressed to the President and Secretary of the MPFSL, the NOC highlighted significant gaps in the federation’s activities, particularly its inability to develop all five disciplines of Modern Pentathlon as recognised by the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM).
The NOC noted that the MPFSL has so far focused mainly on hosting Biathle, Triathle, and Laser Run national tournaments. While these formats are recognised under UIPM, they are not part of the official Olympic Games programme. Crucially, the federation has not staged competitions in equestrian and fencing, the two disciplines that, until recently, formed an integral part of the Olympic pentathlon.
Adding to the challenge, the UIPM last year replaced equestrian with obstacle course racing as part of its revamped format. However, Sri Lanka is yet to stage competitions in either fencing or obstacle racing, leaving athletes without exposure to the full set of events required at the Olympic level.
“In order for the NOC Sri Lanka to grant full membership status, we require that the national federation demonstrates active athlete development in all five disciplines, organises annual national-level competitions in the complete Modern Pentathlon format, and facilitates participation in international competitions covering all disciplines,” the NOC stated.
The letter makes clear that while the NOC acknowledges the MPFSL’s efforts to promote the sport in Sri Lanka, the federation’s current activities are confined to two or three disciplines. This, it said, falls short of the comprehensive framework necessary for recognition.
As a result, the NOC has deferred the MPFSL’s application for full membership until it demonstrates a clear pathway for developing athletes capable of competing across all five disciplines, as well as hosting national-level events that reflect the full scope of the sport.
The decision was unanimously endorsed at the NOC Executive Board meeting held on August 12, 2025. Copies of the correspondence were also forwarded to the Minister of Sports, the Secretary to the Ministry, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the Olympic Council of Asia, signalling the seriousness with which the matter has been taken.
Modern Pentathlon, a sport designed to test a competitor’s versatility across five distinct skills of running, swimming, shooting, fencing, and equestrian, now replaced by obstacle racing, was introduced to Sri Lanka with hopes of widening the country’s Olympic participation. However, the lack of infrastructure, expertise, and systematic development has hampered progress.
Speaking to the Sunday Times, Nishantha Piyasena, President of the MPFSL, said they were taken aback by the NOC’s decision, especially as they were in the midst of preparing to conduct their National Championship featuring all five events.
“I have not officially received the letter, but I have seen a shared document stating that ‘your application for full membership will be deferred.’ However, we have already been a member since 2028, so this is not relevant to us,” he said. “We are moving forward with all five sports, as well as our journey towards the Olympics and the Asian Games.”
Sports analysts point out that fencing and equestrian were always going to be challenging disciplines to establish locally, given the financial and logistical demands. While the UIPM’s shift to obstacle racing theoretically reduces barriers to entry, the absence of structured competitions still underscores the federation’s limited reach.
Without full membership, the federation remains on the fringes of Sri Lanka’s Olympic movement, unable to access the full range of resources, recognition, and international linkages that come with NOC affiliation. At the same time, the NOC has outlined a clear roadmap, expand into all five disciplines, develop athletes holistically, and stage credible national championships.
The onus is now on the MPFSL leadership to mobilise resources, establish partnerships, and build the technical expertise needed to align with international standards. Failure to do so could see Modern Pentathlon stagnate in Sri Lanka, confined to recreational offshoots rather than maturing into a fully-fledged Olympic sport.
The NOC concluded its letter with a reminder of the gravity of the issue: “We trust you will treat this matter with the seriousness it warrants and take necessary steps to develop the sport in line with international and Olympic standards.”