Sports Ministry Suspends Newly-Elected WFI

NEW DELHI: The Union sports ministry on Sunday suspended the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), three days after it elected new office-bearers, for reportedly not following the provisions of its own constitution while taking decisions and also directed the Indian Olympic Association to constitute an ad-hoc panel to manage the affairs of the sports body.

The government cited WFI’s “hasty announcement” of organising the U-15 and U-20 nationals “without following due procedure and not giving sufficient notice to wrestlers” for preparations.

“The new body has not followed the WFI constitution. The federation stands suspended till further orders. WFI will not be taking care of day-to-day activities of wrestling. They need to follow the due process and the rules,” a sports ministry official said.
The source added that the new body had started functioning from the same premises (Brij Bhushan’s official bungalow) where the previous office-bearers operated, and where the alleged sexual harassment of the players had taken place.

WFI chief Sanjay Singh said, however, that they will seek revocation of the federation’s suspension by explaining to the government that there had been no flouting of rules, and if the issue was not resolved, they may explore legal options.
Meanwhile, Sakshi Malik, one of the prominent faces of the agitation against Brij Bhushan, welcomed the ministry’s move. “It is the first step towards something good happening. I hope the government understands more the cause we were fighting for… If a woman federation president is there, it will be better for the safety of women wrestlers. It was a fight for the sisters and daughters of the country,” she added.

Bajrang Punia, who had returned his Padma Shri medallion to the government, said he won’t take back his award. “Now that I have returned it, I am not going to take it back. The honour of our sisters and daughters is bigger than any award. All of you have seen what is happening.”

The ministry has written to the IOA asking it to form a panel at the earliest. “Taking note of the compelling current situation arising out of the influence and control of the WFI’s former office-bearers, serious concerns have arisen about the governance and integrity of the WFI.”

Soon after the WFI’s suspension, BJP president J.P. Nadda called Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the former WFI chief who is also a sitting BJP member of Parliament, for a meeting, after which the former WFI boss announced that he was taking “retirement from the sport”.

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh announced that he won’t be involved in the running of the WFI any longer. “I served wrestling for 12 years… good or bad only time will tell. I have taken retirement from wrestling. I am breaking my relationship with the sport… Now, whatever decision has to be taken, whether to liaise with the government or handling the legal processes, those decisions will be taken by the elected members. The Lok Sabha elections are around the corner and I have to move ahead,” he said.