National Sports Fund Manager Addresses Delays in Payments to Sports Association

BANGKOK: Thanukiat Chanchum, the fund manager of the National Sports Development Fund, has clarified recent reports concerning delays in the disbursement of funds to the Sports Association, asserting that the authority to release such payments lies with the Sports Authority of Thailand's (SAT) financial department. He emphasized that payments would be made once all necessary documents are completed correctly. According to Thai News Agency, Thanukiat Chanchum, who assumed his role last October, explained that his responsibilities are limited to overseeing the fund office and submitting budget proposals to the board for approval. The actual disbursement of funds, he noted, is managed by the fund treasury under the SAT, which must ensure that all documentation is in order before releasing payments. He stressed that he does not have the authority to release or withhold funds. Thanukiat further disclosed that the budget for 2025 remains unapproved by the Comptroller General's Department due to incomplete documen tation. He cited issues such as carelessly prepared documents and procedural steps that have not been completed. Additionally, some associations have requested funds for events already organized in 2024 using the 2025 budget, which violates financial protocols. The principle, he stated, requires approval to be sought before the event, not retroactively. Since taking office, Thanukiat noted that approximately 1,500 million baht in funds had been approved but not disbursed. By November 30, 393 million baht had been disbursed, leaving 542 million baht yet to be paid to the sports associations, with the remainder tied to contractual obligations. He urged associations to submit complete documents by December 2024, warning that failure to do so would be interpreted as a disinterest in disbursement, prompting the board to reallocate the budget to essential projects for 2025.