Sports Ministry suspends newly-formed wrestling-body

New Delhi: The Sports Ministry of India on Sunday suspended the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), which recently elected a new president, Sanjay Singh, NDTV reported.

After the big row of sexual harassment accusations levelled by Indian wrestlers against former president of the body and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the body conducted elections, and Sanjay Singh made a sweeping victory of 40 out 47 votes

However, wrestlers revamped their protests, two of them -Olympic medalists- taking harsh decisions like returning medals as well as Padma Sri or quitting the sport. This was because the freshly elected Sanjay was a close aide of the previous and controversial president, Brij Bhushan.

The sports ministry informed that the decision to suspend the newly formed WFI was taken over 'hasty' announcements of national competition. It added that the election was done without following the Constitution of the WFI.

In a press release, the ministry said, "Such decisions are to be taken by Executive Committee, before which agendas are required to be placed for consideration. As per Article XI of the WFI constitution under the Heading 'Notices and Quorum for Meetings', the minimum notice period for EC meetings is 15 clear days, and a quorum is of 1/3rd of representatives. Even for Emergency EC meeting, minimum notice period is 7 clear days with quorum requirement of 1/3rd of representatives."

It further said that the newly formed body seems to be completely in control of previous office bearers, who were accused of sexual harassment.

The press release said, "The business of the Federation is being run from the premises controlled by former office bearers. Which is also alleged premises wherein sexual harassment of the players have been alleged and present the court is hearing the matter,"