Sports Ministry Suspends Newly Elected Wrestling Body: ‘Hasty Decisions’ & Shadow of Past Haunt WFI

New Delhi: The Sports Ministry threw a bombshell on Sunday, suspending the newly elected Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) body led by Sanjay Singh. This drastic action followed accusations of hasty decisions, procedural violations, and a worrying link to the federation’s tainted past.

The ministry’s ire stemmed from Singh’s announcement on December 21st about holding junior national competitions before year-end. This, the ministry stated, bypassed crucial regulations. At least a 15-day notice is mandatory for such competitions, allowing wrestlers ample preparation time.

The ministry slammed the WFI for overlooking its own constitution. As per Article XI, “Notices and Quorum for Meetings,” a minimum 15-day notice is required for Executive Committee meetings, with a quorum of 1/3rd representatives. Even emergencies demand a 7-day notice and the same quorum requirement.

Adding fuel to the fire, the ministry pointed out the new body’s apparent ties to WFI’s previous office bearers, facing sexual harassment allegations. “Business seems run from premises controlled by former office bearers,” the press release stated, highlighting the unsettling connection to the alleged harassment location currently under court investigation.

Earlier, Olympic medalist Sakshee Malik had criticized the WFI’s decision to host the junior nationals in Gonda, the stronghold of ousted president Brij Bhushan Singh, embroiled in the harassment scandal.

The ministry labelled the new body’s actions as “blatant disregard for established legal and procedural norms.” It concluded that such disregard violated both the WFI’s constitution and the National Sports Development Code. Furthermore, the ministry condemned the “complete arbitrariness” and lack of transparency, emphasizing the importance of good governance, fair play, and accountability in fostering trust amongst athletes, stakeholders, and the public.