The India men's team, eight-times Olympic champions, were eliminated from the 2008 Games competition last month. Beijing will mark the first time India's men will miss the Olympics since they sent their first team in 1928.

The Indian federation has also been criticised for refusing to give a free hand to former Australian stalwart Ric Charlesworth, appointed as technical expert to Indian hockey on the world body's recommendation.

The FIH had given India more time to set things in order but had begun the search for an alternate venue, it said in a statement on its Web site (www.fihockey.org).

An Indian hockey official said on Tuesday the federation would step up work to retain the World Cup.

"We've discussed the issue with all our members and we will take effective steps in this matter," Indian Hockey Federation secretary K.Jothikumaran said.

"We are confident we can address the issues raised by FIH. We will go all out to retain the World Cup in India."

The FIH discussed the issues, including tardy progress made on its project "Promoting Indian Hockey" launched last year, at last week's executive board meeting held in Switzerland.