Sports Ministry gives wrestling federation 72 hours to respond to sexual harassment allegation

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New Delhi | The Sports Ministry on Wednesday sought an explanation from the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) within the next 72 hours after Olympian wrestler Vinesh Phogat leveled serious allegations of sexual harassment of women wrestlers against Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and coaches. The Asian Games and Commonwealth Games gold medalist broke down while talking to reporters on Wednesday as over 30 wrestlers, including Olympic medalists Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, staged a protest at Jantar Mantar.

Vinesh said that I was subjected to mental harassment by Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, had even thought of suicide. Women wrestlers have been sexually assaulted by the WFI president and some coaches in the national camp.

No one takes responsibility for the injuries, he said. He talks about banning wrestlers from the National. The WFI president called me ‘khota sikka’ (worthless). I wanted to commit suicide. I have openly said today, I don’t know whether I will be alive tomorrow or not. We have requested several times to move the camp away from Lucknow. Why does this happen only there? Because it is easy for him to make female wrestlers a victim.

Hours after the protest, the Sports Ministry clarified in a statement that if the WFI does not respond within the next three days, it will proceed to initiate action against the federation in terms of the provisions of the National Sports Development Code, 2011. Taking note of the protest by wrestlers, including Olympic and Commonwealth Games medal winners, in Delhi today and a press conference in which the wrestlers alleged sexual harassment of women wrestlers by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and coaches, the sports ministry said in a statement. Serious allegations of harassment have been made. The Sports Ministry has sought an explanation from the WFI over mismanagement in the functioning of the federation and directed it to respond to the allegations within the next 72 hours.

In a letter sent to the WFI, the ministry has said that since the matter is related to the welfare of the athletes, the ministry has taken the matter very seriously. The ministry has further said that if the WFI fails to submit a reply within the next 72 hours, the ministry will initiate action against the federation as per the provisions of the National Sports Development Code, 2011. The ministry has also canceled an upcoming wrestling camp for women wrestlers amid protests.

Besides this, the women’s national wrestling training camp, which was scheduled to begin from January 18, 2023 at Sports Authority of India’s National Center of Excellence (NCOE) in Lucknow with 41 wrestlers and 13 coaches and support staff, stands cancelled, he said. Is. The Executive Director, NCOE Lucknow has been directed to provide all facilities to the national campers, who have already reported and are likely to report, till the campers depart from the centre. Necessary information has also been sent to all the campers regarding the cancellation of the National Coaching Camp.

Notably, 28-year-old Vinesh also said that she faced death threats for complaining against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. He said, I am being threatened with death since I complained about the harassment to the Prime Minister. The wrestlers are demanding a change in the WFI administration and have appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Sports Authority of India to take action against the WFI chief.

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, 66, has been in charge of the WFI for nearly a decade. Who was elected unopposed as WFI president for the third time in 2019 for a three-year term, dismissed the allegations of sexual harassment leveled against him by top Indian wrestlers, saying, “If the allegations against me are proved, I will myself.” Will hang him

When I came to know that the wrestlers were protesting, I did not know what the allegations were, Sharan told reporters. This is a conspiracy against me, and a big industrialist has a hand in it. When Vinesh Phogat lost, I was the one who motivated her. I will talk to the players. I am ready to face any kind of investigation. Sexual harassment never happened. If even a single athlete comes forward and proves this, I will hang myself.(IANS)

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