Amid Sexual Harassment Allegations, Center Suspends All WFI | Latest India News

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The Ministry of Sports on Saturday suspended all Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) activities until an oversight committee is officially appointed to take over day-to-day operations. The Centre’s decision comes amid accusations of sexual harassment against its chairman, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. This will also include the suspension of the ongoing ranking competition and the refund of entry fees levied on participants for all ongoing activities, the government said, as quoted by ANI news agency.

Earlier today, the department suspended WFI deputy secretary Vinod Tomar following allegations of sexual harassment and bribery by grapplers against the head of the sports body. It also canceled the Open Championship, which was to start at Sharan’s UP stronghold in Gonda.

The WFI rejected all allegations made by the group of protesting wrestlers against Brij Bhushan Singh, and claimed that the unrest was driven by a hidden agenda to unseat the current leadership.

The WFI in particular, under the leadership of the incumbent president, has always acted with the best interests of wrestlers in mind, he said.

A group of 30 wrestlers, including Olympic medalists Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, World Championship medalists Vinesh Phogat, Sarita Mor, Sangeeta Phogat, Satyawart Malik, Jitender Kinha and CWG medalist Sumit Malik, had organized a sit-in of protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. earlier this week.

The grapplers, however, called off their protest last night after securing government assurances that their grievances would be addressed, the first step of which was Brij Bhushan’s withdrawal under fire.

The allegations come months after the coach of the country’s national cycling team was sacked following accusations of sexual harassment.

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