Suspended Wrestling Federation Body To Be Replaced By Ad-hoc Committee

The Sports Ministry asked the India Olympic Association to constitute an ad-hoc committee to look over the affairs of the Wrestling Federation of India after it expelled the newly-elected body on Sunday. According to the reports, the Union Minister For Sports and Youth Affairs Anurag Thakur has written to IOA keeping the current situation in mind.

Earlier today, the sports ministry suspended the Sanjay Singh-led newly-elected WFI body with immediate effect, in view, of being in complete control of former office bearers and disregard to the Sports Code. The Ministry also noted the hasty decision to announce Uttar Pradesh's Gonda as a venue for the upcoming U15 and U20 nationals before the end of the year.

The Ministry called it a 'hasty decision without following the provisions of the WFI constitution.'

Sanjay Singh is a close aide to former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan who was accused of harassment by several women wrestlers.

Heavyweight wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, and others had raised the demand to suspend the wrestling body and were protesting for months. Welcoming the Government's decision to suspend WFI with immediate effects was welcomed by Sakshi Malik, who said wrestlers look forward to more decisions in their favor.

On the other hand, accused Brij Bhushan Sharan said he has cut all ties with wrestling from December 21 onwards. "I have worked 12 years for the wrestlers. Time will tell if I have done justice. I am completely retired from wrestling. I have cut ties with wrestling. Now decisions and talks with the government will be done by the elected people of the federation," Brij Bhushan Singh said in a presser.

"The Ministry has taken the right decision," Bajrang said. "Our stand remains the same. Brij Bhushan and his people should not be part of the WFI. In every state association, he has his people," he added.