Inundated with criticism from elite sportspersons, the Haryana government on Friday decided to put on hold a notification that required athletes employed by it to deposit one-third of their earnings from commercial and professional commitments to the state sports council.

"I have asked for the relevant file of the sports department to be shown to me and the notification dated April 30 to be put on hold till further orders," Chief Minister M L Khattar tweeted. "We are proud of the immense contribution by our sportsperson and I assure them of a just consideration of all issues affecting them," he added.