Sports Ministry Gives WFI 72 Hrs To Respond To Vinesh Phogat’s Sexual Harassment Allegations
They are taking quick action.
In what comes as a major turn of events on India’s wrestling front, the chief of the wrestling federation of the county has been accused of sexually harassing female players. Vinesh Phogat has come forward with these allegations and said that WFI Chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and other coaches at the national camps have been harassing the female players for years now. The latest development in this news is that the Sports Ministry has asked the WFI to respond to these allegations within three days and if not, they will have to initiate action on their end.
#Jantarmantar pic.twitter.com/Q9otWpXoLw
— Vinesh Phogat (@Phogat_Vinesh) January 18, 2023
The Sports Ministry has taken the allegations made by Vinesh Phogat seriously and is also seeking a response from the Wrestling Federation Of India on this. Reportedly, they have given the WFI 72 hours to respond to these allegations and if they fail to do, the ministry will have to take the matter into their hands. If the response does not come within the set time frame, the Sports Ministry will act as per the National Sports Development Code, 2011. This code was incorporated to ensure good governance practices in the various sports played in India.
Union Sports Ministry sought an explanation from Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and directed it to furnish a reply within the next 72 hours on the allegations levelled by wrestlers, including Olympic and CWG medalists: Sports Authority of India pic.twitter.com/w2C4FhyvFX
— ANI (@ANI) January 19, 2023
Vinesh Phogat has said that the camp in Lucknow enables Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh to exploit the female wrestlers easily because he has a house there. Amid these serious allegations against the WFI, the sports ministry has cancelled the National Camp which was supposed to take place in Lucknow starting January 18, 2023.
The National Centre Of Excellence executive director has also been asked to ensure that all facilities are provided to those sportspersons who have already reached the camp.
Also read: Vinesh Phogat Alleges WFI Chief, National Coaches Sexually Harassed Female Wrestlers For Years
खिलाड़ी आत्मसम्मान चाहता है और पूरी शिद्दत के साथ ओलंपिक और बड़े खेलो के लिए तैयारी करता है लेकिन अगर फेडरेशन उसका साथ ना दे मनोबल टूट जाता है।लेकिन अब हम नही झुकेंगे।अपने अधिकारों के लिए लड़ेंगे।#BoycottWFIPresident#BoycottWrestlingPresident@PMOIndia @narendramodi @AmitShah
— Vinesh Phogat (@Phogat_Vinesh) January 18, 2023
The 28-year-old wrestler has slammed the WFI for not lending support to the players who have raised complaints regarding the harassment. She tweeted that when the federation does not offer support to its players, they lose their morale. She also alleges that along with the WFI chief, the national coaches have also been sexually harassing female wrestlers for years.
