NCP chief Sharad Pawar expressed approval for the suspension of the newly-elected Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). However, he felt the Sports Ministry should have made this decision sooner.
The suspension, implemented three days after the WFI elected new office bearers led by president Sanjay Singh, was attributed to the organization's failure to adhere to the provisions of its constitution in decision-making.
The Sports Ministry has instructed the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to establish an ad-hoc panel to oversee the management of the sports body's affairs.
Speaking to reporters, Pawar said, "The decision (to suspend the WFI) should have been taken earlier. There was a complaint about objectionable conduct towards women wrestlers. A decision should have been taken against such elements long back. Although it is delayed, I welcome the decision."
The new WFI body was suspended by the Sports Ministry after its "hasty announcement" to conduct the U-15 and U-20 nationals "without following due procedure and not giving sufficient notice to wrestlers" for preparations.
Just hours after assuming the position of WFI president on December 21, Sanjay Singh declared the commencement of age-group national championships in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, starting from December 28.
Allegations of sexual exploitation against BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh -- made by wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat -- during his tenure as WFI president, prompted a significant turn of events.
Following the election of Brij Bhushan loyalist Sanjay Singh as the new WFI president, Sakshi officially announced her retirement from the sport and Bajrang chose to return his Padma Shri to the government.
