Sports-related experts have raised concerns over the upcoming elections for the head of Afghanistan's National Olympic Committee (NOC), describing it as "controversial".
The previous election held in October 2009 resulted in Mohammad Zahir Akhbar being appointed the NOC chief director for four years.
However, the next election will be held this Saturday, more than six months before Akhbar's term is due to end.
"The executive board has the authority to select or sack anyone within the National Olympic Committee. We will conduct this election six months before Akhbar's period is over," NOC spokesman Mujibullah Rahmani told TOLOnews.
Sports analyst Naser Hotaki said this is not within the guidelines of the committee.
"The Olympic Committee is not authorised to launch elections ahead of the set period. I think it is a pre-planned programme to have a meeting on Monday and launch elections next Saturday. [But] it should have been announced three months ahead and the candidates should have started their programs and campaigns," he told TOLOnews.
He also added that registered sport federations whose statutes are in accordance with the International Olympics Committee are able to vote in the election, but this is not allowed by the NOC.
"Those federations who are registered with the Olympic committee can vote, but it seems that in Afghanistan federations outside of the National Olympics Committee cannot vote," Hotaki said.
But the NOC officials denied this saying that all federations are able to vote in the election.
"The executive board has decided to allow both registered and none registered federations such as the sports departments within the Ministries of Interior, Defense, National Security Department, Women Affairs and Education Minister to vote," Rahmani said.
The nominees for the next chief are current NOC chief Mohammad Zaher Akhbar, Amena Mustaqim, Jawed, and Khuwaja Hafizullah Herawi.