Sports ministry suspends newly elected WFI

The government has suspended the newly-elected Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) panel for the "hasty" announcement.The ministry announced its decision on Sunday citing that the WFI body had shown complete disregard for the existing rules and regulations.In an official release, the Sports Ministry said that the announcement for national competitions was hasty and that due process was not followed.The ministry cited that the president of the newly elected body - Sanjay Kumar Singh - announced on 21 December that the junior national competitions will begin before the end of this year. The ministry detailed that this was against the rules and at least a 15-day notice was needed so that the wrestlers could prepare.
"Such decisions (holding nationals) 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', minimum notice period for EC meeting is 15 clear days and 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," the ministry said in its press release.The business of WFI, the ministry said, 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 (at) present the court in hearing the matter," it added.
The Sports ministry's strong rebuke comes days after Sanjay Singh, an aide of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, succeeded him in the elections for the country's top wrestling body.After Sanjay Singh's election, Brij Bhushan had announced the dates for under-15 and under-20 nationals.After Singh's election, ace wrestler Bajrang Punia, who had been at the forefront of the wrestlers' protests, said he would return his Padma Shri to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "I am returning my Padma Shri award to the Prime Minister," he wrote on X.