Lok Sabha Question No. 542 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-06
Subject: Suspension of Newly Elected Executive Committee of Wrestling Federation of India
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Karti P. Chidambaram, S. Venkatesan

## MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.542 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2024

Suspension of Newly Elected Executive Committee of Wrestling Federation of India

542.   SHRI KARTI P. CHIDAMBARAM: SHRI S. VENKATESAN:

Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  reasons  for  the  suspension  of  the  newly-  elected  executive Committee of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI);
- (b)  whether  the  decision  is  in  the  background  of  announcement  by  a bronze medalist from the 2016 Olympics that quit wrestling and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  the  details  of  measures  taken  by  the  Ministry  to  safeguard  women sports persons following the protests against alleged sexual harassment by then Chief of Federation;
- (d)  whether the Ministry has been monitoring the functioning of the WFI since sexual harassment allegations have been made against its former president and if so, the details thereof;
- (e)  whether  the  Government  plans  on  reforming  the  composition  and function of WFI; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR)

(a)  to  (f)  Sir,  some  wrestlers, including prominent women wrestlers, had staged  a  protest/dharna  in  January  2023,  levelling  allegations  of  sexual harassment,  arbitrariness  and  mismanagement  on  part  of  the  former President  of  the  Wrestling  Federation  of  India  (WFI).  Since  the  matter pertains to the wellbeing of the athletes, Government of India immediately took note of the allegations and directed the Executive Committee (EC) of the  WFI  to  abstain  from  administering  and  managing  the  day-to-day activities of the WFI. Further, as a purely interim measure, an Oversight Committee  was  appointed  by  the  Government  on  23.01.2023  to  enquire into the allegations of sexual misconduct, harassment and/or intimation, financial  irregularities  and  administrative  lapses,  levelled  by  prominent sportspersons. Later, on 03.05.2023, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) appointed  an  Ad  Hoc  Committee  to  manage  the  affairs  of  the  WFI, including  selection  of  athletes  and  making  entries  for  participation  of sportspersons in international events, and also to conduct the elections of

the EC of the WFI. The elections were held on 21.12.2023. However, due to some arbitrary and unauthorised actions on part of the newly elected President of WFI, the Government, on 24.12.2023, directed the EC of the WFI to abstain from administering and managing the day-to-day activities of the Federation, as such actions are against the principles of the  Good Governance. Subsequently,  on  27.12.2023,  the  IOA  appointed  an  Ad  Hoc  Committee, tasked with overseeing and supervising the operations of the WFI, such as athletes' selection, submitting  entries  for athletes  to participate  in international events, organizing sports activities, handling bank accounts etc. As  regards  allegations  of  sexual  harassment,  based  on  the  FIRs  filed,

Delhi Police has filed a charge sheet in the Court.

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