World physique declares suspension over India’s failure to carry elections after its federation chief was charged with sexual misconduct.

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has been suspended by the game’s world governing physique for not holding elections after its chief was charged with sexual misconduct.

India’s high wrestlers staged weeks of sit-in protests in New Delhi this 12 months to demand the resignation of WFI President Brij Bhushan Singh.

The 66-year-old, additionally a lawmaker for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has since been charged with sexual harassment and stalking and is at present free on bail.

The federation’s management was disbanded within the wake of the scandal, with recent elections scheduled for earlier this month however postponed indefinitely on the final second.

“The absence of a regularly elected president and a board does not comply with the UWW regulations and the conditions for membership,” United World Wrestling stated in an announcement late on Thursday.

Indian wrestlers will likely be allowed to compete within the Asian Games subsequent month however not below the Indian flag, the assertion added.

Singh, accused of groping feminine athletes and demanding sexual favours, has denied the allegations and claimed to be the sufferer of a “conspiracy” to drive him out of parliament.

Seven feminine wrestlers, together with a minor, had filed police complaints towards him, accusing him of stalking, touching them with sexual intent, making sexual remarks and “outraging their modesty”.

Wrestlers and supporters arrested

Singh has a legal file relationship again to the Nineteen Nineties. He nonetheless has four criminal cases pending towards him on prices that embrace theft, tried homicide and unlawful funds in reference to an election.

Several high wrestlers have been charged with rioting and dysfunction after being arrested throughout a protest towards him in May. Images of star athletes being detained by police as they tried to march to parliament went viral on social media.

Several of their supporters have been additionally arrested after scuffles with police broke out in entrance of parliament.

Indian wrestlers then vowed to take the matter to court docket.

Olympian Vinesh Phogat, one of many athletes who led the protests, told Al Jazeera that a number of sexual harassment circumstances have been beforehand reported towards Singh, however he both made the costs disappear or ensured the complainant didn’t compete once more.

Wrestling is fashionable in rural northern India. In the 76 years since India’s independence, it has gained 21 medals in particular person sports activities, seven by wrestlers.

Wrestler Anita Sheoran, who has gained a Commonwealth Games gold and is a witness in a sexual harassment case, has filed her nomination to exchange Singh within the high publish.

But backers of Singh, whose household is prohibited from contesting the elections, had been anticipated to win any election.

Bajrang Punia, who is likely one of the wrestlers who led protests towards Singh and who was a bronze medallist on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, is on the squad for the Asian Games beginning on September 23 in Hangzhou, China