Indian Sports Ministry Gives Wrestling Body 72 Hours To Respond On Sexual Harassment Charge

The Indian Sports Ministry has sought an explanation from the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) "within the next 72 hours", after Olympian wrestler Vinesh Phogat levelled serious allegations of sexually harassing female wrestlers against the sports body's coaches and chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. (More Sports News)

While speaking to the press, the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games gold medallist broke down revealing the account. More than 30 wrestlers, including Olympic medallists Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, are currently staging a protest at the Jantar Mantar at New Delhi.

Hours after the protest, the Sports Ministry in a statement made it clear 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 cognizance 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 and directed it to furnish a reply within the next 72 hours on the allegations made," the sports ministry said in a statement.

"In its communication to WFI, the Ministry has stated that "since the matter pertains to the well being of athletes, the Ministry has taken a very serious view of the matter.

The Ministry has further stated that if WFI fails to furnish the reply within the next 72 hours, the Ministry will proceed to initiate action against the federation in terms of the provisions of the National Sports Development Code, 2011," it added.

"Adhyaksh (WFI President) and a few coaches in the national camp have sexually exploited female wrestlers," she said.

"No one takes responsibility for injuries. They talk of banning wrestlers from nationals. The WFI President called me 'khota sikka' (useless). I wanted to commit suicide.

"I've openly said it today, I don't know if I will be alive tomorrow. We have requested many times to move the camp away from Lucknow. Why does it happen only there? Because it's easy for him to prey on the women wrestlers," she added.

Earlier, The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) had issued notices to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the city police after wrestler Vinesh Phogat accused BJP MP and Wresting Federation of India (WFI) President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexually exploiting women wrestlers.

"As per the reports, renowned women Olympian wrestlers of India have accused the WFI president and some coaches of sexually harassing women wrestlers. This is a very a serious matter," the panel said.
(with inputs from Agencies)