In a major blow to the newly elected members of the Indian Wrestling Federation, the sports ministry has suspended its activities until further notice. This follows Sanjay Singh, a supporter of outgoing leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been accused of sexual harassment by some of India’s top wrestlers.
In a strongly worded statement released on Sunday, the ministry said the main reasons for the suspension included:
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The decision was made in violation of WFI regulations. .
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Failure to comply with national sporting regulations.
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Newly elected members are under the full control of their previous officeholders.
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Run the federation from facilities managed by former key members
Here we look at the details of the charges and the conduct that led to them.
On the same day he was elected as the federation’s new president, Sanjay Singh announced that the U-15 and U-20 international matches will be held in Gonda, the home base of former federation president Brij Bhushan, by the end of this year. The holding of a professional wrestling event in Gonda was one of the points of contention in the wrestlers’ claims of sexual harassment.
The Ministry of Sports announced this:It is in a hurryHe said the federation had not given “sufficient notice to wrestlers who participate in the above Nationals without complying with the provisions of the WFI Constitution.” The decisions taken at the meeting were involve the general secretarywhich is contrary to the preamble of the WFI Code and also contrary to the UWW Regulations.
The general secretary is Prem Chand Lochab of the opposition Anita Sheoran camp.
Furthermore, the ministry strongly criticized the new group, saying it was still under the new law. Influence of former members. “The newly elected body appears to have complete control over the former officials, with complete disregard for the Sports Code. The federation’s business is run by state power,” the statement said. There is. Facilities managed by former presidents.This is also claimed Facilities where sexual harassment occurs The players have been charged and the case is currently being heard in court. ”
This is indicative of the fact that the WFI office is located in Brij Bhushan’s government-provided residence on Ashoka Road in Delhi.
The statement also said, “The newly elected executive body of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) blatant disregard It violates established legal and procedural norms, both the constitutional provisions of the WFI and the National Sports Development Code.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also criticized complete arbitrariness On the part of the new president, he said, “it violates established principles of good governance and lacks transparency and due process. “This is essential to ensure accountability.”
Meanwhile, United World Wrestling, the international governing body for wrestling, has not yet lifted the suspension of WFI’s activities.
When Singh was elected as the new president, Sakshi announced her retirement from competition. “We fought heartily, but if someone like Brij Bhushan, my business partner and close ally, gets elected as WFI president, I will give up wrestling,” Sakshi said.
Punia also returned his Padma Shri award and placed it on the pavement of Kartaviya Road in New Delhi as a sign of protest.