Facing allegations of sexual harassment from his players, former Indian women's hockey coach M K Kaushik found support from Dronacharya awardee boxing coach O P Bhardwaj who felt accusations against his old friend were nothing but a conspiracy.

Bhardwaj, the first Indian boxing coach to be honoured with the Dronacharya award, said he has known Kaushik for years and it was impossible to believe that the celebrated coach would sexually harass girls under him.