Sports ministry gives 72 hours to wrestling body for explanation on sexual harassment allegations

After prominent Indian wrestlers sat on a protest against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and levelled allegations of sexual harassment and corruption in the body, the Union Sports Ministry of India took a serious note of the charges following which the Sports Authority of India (SAI) issued an official statement on Wednesday demandingan explanation from the WFI on all charges within the next 72 hours.

“Taking cognisance of the protest staged by wrestlers, including Olympic and CWG medalists, in Delhi today and a press conference in which wrestlers have levelled serious charges of sexual harassment of women wrestlers by the President and coaches of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and of mismanagement in the functioning of the federation, the Sports Ministry has sought an explanation from WFI on the allegations and directed it to furnish a reply within the next 72 hours," read the statement released.

If the federation fails to provide clarification within the deadline, the ministry will take suitable action against it as per theNational Sports Development Code, 2011.

As the wrestlers continue their protest, SAI has cancelled the Women National Wrestling Coaching Camp that was scheduled to start on January 18 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, with participation of 41 wrestlers and 13 coaches.

Notably, Indian wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and others sat on a 'Dharna' (protest) on Wednesday at Jantar Mantar in the capital city of New Delhi.

During the press conference, Phogat and Malik accused the federation President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singhof sexual harassment while Bajrang Punia alleged severe mismanagement in the players' training.

“Women wrestlers have been sexually harassed at national camps by coaches and also the WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh," said Phogat.

"Some of the coaches appointed at national camps have been sexually harassing women wrestlers for years. The WFI president is also involved in sexual harassment."

After being put in the spot, WFI President Singh refuted all charges and defendedhimself by saying that he could be 'hanged' if the allegations against him were proven true.

“Is anyone saying that the WFI has sexually harassed a wrestler? Only Vinesh has said it. Has anyone come forward and said that they personally have been sexually harassed? Even if one wrestler comes forward and says that she has been sexually harassed, that day I can be hanged," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

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