A top Indian woman cyclist in a complaint to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) has alleged that the national coach RK Sharma sexually harassed her. The team was on an exposure tour in Slovenia.
The victim said Sharma forced himself into her room and harassed her asking her "to become his wife". The incident took place on May 29, reported NDTV. The victim told SAI that she was terrified and feared for her life. There were no women coaches present with the team on the trip. The team left for Slovenia on May 15.
Before the trip, Sharma told the athlete that she would have to share a room with him in Slovenia because arrangements are on twin-sharing rooms. The cyclist contacted the SAI immediately and the organisation arranged a separate single room for her upon arrival.
When the team went to Germany for an event, she was left behind saying there was no separate accommodation for her. The coach also threatened her saying he will remove her from the National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) and destroy her career if she did not sleep with him, reported ESPN.
The complainant is part of the elite Target Olympic Podium scheme.
The Cycling Federation of India (CFI) and SAI on Wednesday called the entire team back yesterday. The cyclist was brought back on June 3. Two separate panels by SAI and CFI will be investigating the matter. Coach Sharma was asked to return as soon as possible in a separate letter.
The Cycling Federation of India (CFI) Chairman Onkar Singh said the decision to cut the trip short was made by SAI. "SAI officials called up CFI this morning and said all the contingent including coach RK Sharma will be called back immediately from Slovenia."
The Indian endurance contingent has five male cyclists and one female cyclist. The team was scheduled to return on June 14. The trip was to help the athletes prepare for the Asian Track Cycling Championships, scheduled to be held in New Delhi from June 18 to 22.
The Sports Authority of India issued a statement saying the athlete was immediately brought back to India to ensure her safety. She first informed Olympic Gold Quest and later registered a complaint with Commodore PK Garg, the CEO of TOPS. The matter is being dealt with on priority and will be resolved shortly. A committee has been constituted to investigate.