The Odisha government on Thursday revealed that it has provided financial assistance of Rs 4.09 crore to Dutee Chand since 2015, a claim that the star sprinter contested on the ground that it included Rs 3 crore prize money for winning Asian Games medals.

The state government’s statement came a day after Dutee tried to douse the controversy that erupted when she put her BMW car on sale. She had said she was selling her luxury car not to fund her training but because the vehicle’s maintenance cost is beyond her after reports to the contrary.

“The total financial support provided to Dutee Chand from State government/OMC is Rs 4.09 crore (after 2015),” a statement from the Department of Sports and Youth Services, Government of Odisha, said.

“Rs 3 crore as financial incentive for medals won at Asian Games 2018; Rs 30 lakh for training and financial support during 2015-19; Rs 50 lakh for training support for Tokyo Olympics released in two instalments,” the statement added.

“The Rs 3 crore is the prize money the Odisha government had given me for winning two silver medals in 2018 Asian Games. It is just like what a P V Sindhu or any other medal winner gets from the state governments like Haryana or Punjab. It should not be considered as financial assistance for training,” Dutee claimed.