An Indian squash player has had to publicly rescind an offer to sell his kidney.
Ravi Dixit offered his organ for sale on social media, complaining that a lack of sponsorship meant he needed the extra money to be able to continue to compete.
‘I need at least Rs 1 lakh [100,000 rupees, or €1,400] to participate in the South Asian Games but have not been able to find any sponsor,’ he is said to have written in a Facebook post.
‘So, I have decided to sell my kidney for Rs 8 lakh [€11,000] so that I can participate in other tournaments as well for the rest of the year.’
Selling your organs is, unsurprisingly, illegal in India and Dixit has hurriedly clarified that his offer was ‘a spur of the moment’ thing and that he didn’t really intend to follow through on it.
The 23-year-old said: ‘I did not realise there is so much to be read into this until I received a call from a reporter.’
In a letter to the head of India’s squash federation, Dixit wrote: ‘Squash is my life and I wish to continue playing it. I am keen to pursue the game as my career and would continuously look for sponsors.
‘I never intended to sell my kidney and it was a spur of the moment statement for which I am sorry. I apologise to my family and the people who have supported me.’
