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The Times of India
The Times of India
Sport
Sabi Hussain | TNN

Cyclist lodges FIR against coach accused of 'inappropriate behaviour'

NEW DELHI: A national-level cyclist, who had accused the head coach of "inappropriate behaviour" during a foreign exposure trip to Slovenia, on Saturday lodged an FIR against him after the Sports Authority of India's (SAI) Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) suggested her to do so.

In a statement issued by the SAI, it stated: "The national-level cyclist has lodged an FIR on Saturday against the national cycling coach for his inappropriate behaviour during a foreign exposure trip in Slovenia. SAI had investigated the case through its Internal Complaints Committee which in its preliminary report submitted on June 8, 2022 stated that the case was prima facie established and the incidents that the athlete had mentioned in her complaint were correct. Following the report that was submitted by ICC, SAI terminated the contract of the coach, who was recommended by the Federation, on June 8, 2022 with immediate effect."

"The ICC also advised the athlete to file a police complaint, which the athlete decided to do on June 11, 2022. To ensure that the athlete is able to file the FIR smoothly, SAI deputed two of its officers from TOPS, including a lady officer, to accompany the athlete to the police station. SAI stands with the decision of the athlete and will extend all support to her in future as well," the statement added.

The cyclist, in her complaint, had alleged multiple incidents of misconduct by the accused coach during the tour, including asking her to share the hotel room with him when the contingent had arrived in Slovenia on May 16 and forcibly entering her room without obtaining her consent after returning from a competition trip to Germany on May 29. There were other separate incidents of her being subjected to snide remarks by the coach and that he was not even willing to speak to her to impart training instructions following her snub to his improper overtures, as informed by the SAI.

The trip was part of the CFI’s efforts to prepare the team for the Asian Track Championships, scheduled to be held from June 18 to 22 at the indoor cycling velodrome of the IG stadium here. The month-long preparatory camp, which began on May 15, will last till June 14. The complainant was the only female cyclist in the eight-member group.

The complainant, multiple gold medal winners in different editions of the Track Asia Cup cycling competitions, was asked to cut short her trip following the coach’s atrocious behaviour. She returned to India on June 4 early morning on the SAI’s insistence after she narrated her ordeal to Target Olympic Podium Scheme’s (TOPS) CEO, Commodore PK Garg, on June 1 from Slovenia. The coach in question was associated with the track sprint cyclists, who have been selected to be part of the TOPS riders for Paris Olympics 2024 and Los Angeles 2028, before his embarrassing sacking.

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