Following the second suspension of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) in 2023, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) is slated to establish a new ad hoc committee to oversee WFI’s operations. The Sports Ministry issued a strong statement on December 24, suspending WFI and contending that the newly elected board, led by President Sanjay Singh, was still influenced by former office bearers previously suspended amid harassment allegations.
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This development transpired after Sports Minister Anurag Thakur penned a letter to the IOA, urging the creation of the ad-hoc committee. The WFI was previously governed by an ad-hoc committee earlier in the year.
The WFI controversy dates back to early 2023 when top wrestlers in India spoke out against former president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, revealing instances of harassment and intimidation. Subsequently, the Indian Olympic Association and Sports Ministry suspended the existing board. Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh was ousted as WFI president, and after Sanjay Singh’s election, wrestlers alleged that nothing substantial had changed, as he was purportedly a business partner and right-hand man to Brij Bhushan.
Recent revelations by former wrestler Sakshi Malik about junior national level championships in Gonda prompted the sports ministry to release a statement, declaring the championship illegal without a 15-day notice to state federations. In response, the ministry suspended the existing WFI body.
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