Explained: Why Sports Ministry suspended newly-elected Wrestling Federation of India

Just three days after the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) elections, the newly-elected body was suspended by the Sports Ministry on Sunday. Former president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s loyalist, Sanjay Singh, winning the WFI election on 21 December had led to Sakshi Malik retiring from the sport and Bajrang Punia returning his Padma Shri award.

Sakshi, who won bronze at the Rio Olympics in 20216, had been one of the biggest faces of protest against Brij Bhushan who has been accused of sexual harassment by multiple wrestlers.

Why WFI was suspended?

Sports Ministry sighted WFI’s “hasty announcement” of organising the U-15 and U-20 nationals “without following due procedure and not giving sufficient notice to wrestlers” for preparations as the reason for suspending the body till further orders.

“This announcement is hasty, without giving sufficient notice to wrestlers who are to take part in the said nationals and without following the provisions of the constitution of WFI. As per clause 3 (e) of the preamble of the constitution of WFI, the object of the WFI, among others, is to arrange the holding of Senior, Junior and Sub Junior National Championships as per UWW Rules at places selected by the Executive Committee,” the Sports Ministry was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

“Such decisions are to be taken by the 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 the quorum is of 1/3rd of representatives. Even for Emergency EC meetings, the minimum notice period is 7 clear days with a quorum requirement of 1/3rd of representatives,” the ministry added.

WFI under “complete control of former office-bearers”

The ministry also said the new body was working under the “complete control of former (WFI) office-bearers”, which was not in conformity with the National Sports Code.

“Further, in terms of Article X (d) of the Constitution of WFI, it is the Secretary General of WFI, who has been made responsible for carrying out the general business of the Federation, keeping the minutes of the meetings, maintaining all the records of the Federation, calling the meetings of the General Council and the Executive Committee. It seems the Secretary-General has not been involved in the said meeting of EC, which was held without any notice or quorum,” it stated.

“The decisions made by the newly elected executive body of the WFI demonstrate a blatant disregard for the established legal and procedural norms, violating both the WFI’s constitutional provisions and the National Sports Development Code. The newly elected body appeared to be in complete control of former office bearers in complete disregard to the Sports Code. The business of the Federation is being run from the premises controlled by former office bearers,” the ministry said.

Newly-elected WFI secretary-general, Prem Chand Lochab, had written to Sanjay Singh a day after the elections that a “few states have objected to rescheduling and relocating of age group and junior Nationals”.

“In this regard, no regular meeting of the Executive Committee of WFI as per its Constitution has been conducted after the elections for newly elected Executive Council held on 21-12-2023.”

“In view of the above, it is felt that the grievances of state federations are genuine and may be considered and the U20 and U15 National Wrestling Championships 2023 scheduled at Nandini Nagar, Gonda from December 28-30 may be postponed,” Lochab, the former Railway Sports Control Board secretary had written in his letter.

Several top wrestlers, including Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi and World Championship medallist Vinesh Phogat have levelled allegations of sexual harassment against Brij Bhushan and the case is being heard in the Delhi High Court.

With Agency inputs