The Sports Ministry has requested that the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) appoint an interim panel to govern the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), whose freshly elected management has been suspended following a disagreement with wrestlers.
The Sports Ministry stated in a letter to the IOA chairman that the interim committee may oversee and regulate the WFI’s business, including athlete selection.
“… Taking note of the compelling current situation arising from the influence and control of the WFI’s former office bearers, serious concerns have arisen about the governance and integrity of the WFI,” wrote Tarun Pareek, the Centre’s undersecretary.
“This requires for immediate and stringent corrective measures to uphold the principles of good governance in sports organisations, and thus, now it becomes incumbent on the part of the IOA to make suitable arrangements for the interim period for managing the affairs of WFI, so that sportspersons of wrestling discipline do not suffer in any manner and the principle of good governance is the sports body do not get jeopardised,” the Sports Ministry said in the letter.
The present administration led by freshly elected chief Sanjay Singh, a loyalist of former WFI chairman Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, has been suspended by the Centre, therefore another round of elections to the WFI cannot be ruled out.
The IOA’s provisional panel will oversee the WFI’s day-to-day operations, including making entries for athletes to compete in international championships and organizing athletic events.
After ace wrestler Sakshee Malikkh expressed worries over the impending junior national events, the Centre ordered the newly-elected WFI panel to halt all activity till further directives were issued. The Centre also remarked on the “hasty” introduction of the junior national competitions.
The Sports Ministry in a statement noted the newly elected body “appears to be (in) complete control of former office bearers in complete disregard to the Sports Code”.
The business of WFI, the ministry said, is being run from the premises controlled by former office bearers. “Which is also alleged premises wherein sexual harassment of the players have been alleged and (at) present the court in hearing the matter,” it added.
Brij Bhushan, a six-time BJP MP, was forced to resign when the country’s finest wrestlers, including Ms Malikkh, accused him of sexually assaulting female wrestlers.
In January, renowned wrestlers including Olympic bronze medalist Bajrang Punia and Commonwealth Games gold medalist Vinesh Phogat took to the streets to demand action against the BJP MP.
They had called off the protest after receiving guarantees from the authorities. Brij Bhushan has also being investigated. In the most recent WFI election, Sanjay Singh defeated Commonwealth Games gold medalist Anita Sheoran, who was supported by the protesting wrestlers.
Despite assurances that close associates and relatives of Brij Bhushan would not be permitted to run, Sanjay Singh’s nomination was approved.
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