The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has formed a seven-member committee to probe the allegations of sexual harassment against Wresting Federation of India (WFI) President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Members of the committee include Olympic medalist Mary Kom, former archer Dola Banerjee, Alaknanda Ashok, London Olympic medalist Yogeshwar Dutt, Indian Weightlifting Federation President Sahdev Yadav and two advocates, the IOA announced on January 20.
Sahdev Yadav, Indian Weightlifting Federation president and a member of the IOA said the committee will conduct an unbiased investigation regarding the charges levelled by wrestlers against the WFI President and its coaches.
“We will sit and listen to everyone and do an unbiased investigation after looking at the charges and try to give a fair justice,” Sahdev Yadav said.
Wrestlers, including Olympic and Commonwealth Games (CWG) medalists, are staging a protest in Delhi in which women wrestlers have levelled serious charges of sexual harassment by the president and coaches of the WFI and of mismanagement in the functioning of the federation.
The protest was launched on January 18, with the protesters alleging that women wrestlers were being sexually harassed by the WFI President and their coaches.
They have also demanded a complete overhaul of the Federation. WFI president Brij Bhushan Saran Singh refuted the allegations claiming he will expose the ‘political conspiracy’ at a press conference in Uttar Pradesh’s Gonda on January 20.
On January 19, a group of wrestlers had a meeting with Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur which stretched till early this morning.
Meanwhile Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Ravi Dahiya and Deepak Punia on January 20 wrote to PT Usha, president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on the ‘sexual harassment’ complaints against the WFI chairman.
In a letter to the IOA president, the star wrestlers has accused the WFI chairman of sexual exploitation and financial irregularities.
Earlier PT Usha stated that “As IOA President, I’ve been discussing the current matter of wrestlers with the members and for all of us the welfare and well-being of the athletes is the top most priority of IOA. We request athletes to come forward and voice their concerns with us.”
“We will ensure a complete investigation to ensure justice. We also have decided to form a special committee to deal with such situations that may arise in the future, for swifter action,” she added.
