https://sputniknews.in/20230121/wrestlers-call-off-protest-as-federation-chief-steps-aside-amid-harassment-allegations-584414.html
Wrestlers Call Off Protest As Federation Chief Steps Aside Amid Harassment Allegations
Wrestlers Call Off Protest As Federation Chief Steps Aside Amid Harassment Allegations
Sputnik India
The wrestlers’ protest was called off on Saturday after Sports Minister Anurag Thakur announced that the Wrestling Federation of India's (WFI) chief will step aside until the investigation regarding sexual harassment charges against him is complete.
2023-01-21T12:21+0530
2023-01-21T12:21+0530
2023-01-21T12:21+0530
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The wrestlers’ protest, which has been carrying on for the past three days at Delhi's popular protest hub, Jantar Mantar, was called off on Saturday after Sports Minister Anurag Thakur announced that the Wrestling Federation of India's (WFI) chief, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, will step aside until the investigation regarding sexual harassment charges against him is complete.Female wrestlers, including Sakshi Malik who won bronze in the 2016 Rio Olympics, Sarita Mor who won bronze in the 2021 World Championship in Oslo, Norway, Sangeeta Phogat, Vinesh Phogat, Anshu Malik, and national gold medalist Sonam Malik were joined by male wrestlers Satyawart Kadian, Jitender Kinha, Amit Dhankar and Commonwealth Games (CWG) medalist Sumit Malik to demand that Singh be removed immediately and the sports body be dismantled.The wrestlers alleged that the national coaches molested female wrestlers over the years and the female wrestlers received death threats from WFI officials.Phogat clarified that though she herself has not suffered sexual harassment, she claimed that at least 10 women wrestlers had told her of their horrifying experience.In 2021, when Phogat met Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the Tokyo Games, she drew his attention to several issues troubling Indian wrestlers. Phogat claimed that because of this, she received death threats from officials close to the WFI President. Wrestling champion Bajrang Punia told Indian media that the protest was the last resort and raised objections against the federation's arbitrary functioning.The wrestlers also decided not to compete in any international competition unless the WFI President were removed.To investigate the case, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has assembled a seven-member committee that includes two lawyers and boxing champion Mary Kom, Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF) president Sahdev Yadav, archer Dola Banerjee and Olympic medalist wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt.
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wrestlers call off protest, wrestling federation chief to step down amid harassment charges, indian olympic association set up seven-member committee to probe wrestlers' allegations, financial misappropriation against federation chief brij bhushan sharan singh,
wrestlers call off protest, wrestling federation chief to step down amid harassment charges, indian olympic association set up seven-member committee to probe wrestlers' allegations, financial misappropriation against federation chief brij bhushan sharan singh,
Wrestlers Call Off Protest As Federation Chief Steps Aside Amid Harassment Allegations
The Indian Olympic Association has convened a seven-member committee to investigate wrestlers' allegations of sexual harassment and financial misappropriation against federation chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
The wrestlers’ protest, which has been carrying on for the past three days at Delhi's popular protest hub, Jantar Mantar, was called off on Saturday after Sports Minister Anurag Thakur announced that the Wrestling Federation of India's (WFI) chief, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, will step aside until the investigation regarding sexual harassment charges against him is complete.
"The committee will complete its investigation within four weeks. The wrestlers put forward their demands. I have assured them that appropriate steps will be taken. All allegations of sexual harassment and financial misappropriation will be investigated," Thakur said during a press conference on Saturday.
Female wrestlers, including Sakshi Malik who won bronze in the 2016 Rio Olympics, Sarita Mor who won bronze in the 2021 World Championship in Oslo, Norway, Sangeeta Phogat, Vinesh Phogat, Anshu Malik, and national gold medalist Sonam Malik were joined by male wrestlers Satyawart Kadian, Jitender Kinha, Amit Dhankar and Commonwealth Games (CWG) medalist Sumit Malik to demand that Singh be removed immediately and the sports body be dismantled.
The wrestlers alleged that the national coaches molested female wrestlers over the years and the female wrestlers received death threats from WFI officials.
"It's better to die once rather than slowly dying every day. We aren't able to sleep at night as we have no idea whether we will participate in a competition or not; whether we will go to the national camp or not. We fear that these coaches and their acolytes might spike our food and we will test positive for doping," Vinesh Phogat told Indian media.
Phogat clarified that though she herself has not suffered sexual harassment, she claimed that at least 10 women wrestlers had told her of their horrifying experience.
In 2021, when Phogat met Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the Tokyo Games, she drew his attention to several issues troubling Indian wrestlers. Phogat claimed that because of this, she received death threats from officials close to the WFI President.
Wrestling champion Bajrang Punia told Indian media that the protest was the last resort and raised objections against the federation's arbitrary functioning.
The wrestlers also decided not to compete in any international competition unless the WFI President were removed.
To investigate the case, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has assembled a seven-member committee that includes two lawyers and boxing champion Mary Kom, Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF) president Sahdev Yadav, archer Dola Banerjee and Olympic medalist wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt.
