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FOR the primary time since India’s prime wrestlers, together with two Olympics medal winners, alleged sexual harassment by their federation chief, BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the International Olympic Committee has stepped in.
The assertion got here hours after the wrestlers — together with Bajrang Punia (Olympics Bronze, 2021) and Sakshi Malik (Olympics Bronze, 2016) — threatened to drop their medals into the Ganga at Haridwar. The IOC spokesperson from Lausanne, Switzerland, in a response to a question from The Indian Express, stated that the “treatment” meted out to the athletes over the weekend, after they had been manhandled and detained for hours, was “very disturbing.”
The IOC requested for an “unbiased, criminal investigation” into the allegations of sexual harassment and underlined: “We urge that the safety and wellbeing of these athletes is duly considered throughout this process and that this investigation will be speedily concluded.”
The IOC additionally urged the IOA, headed by P T Usha, which has been conspicuous by its silence to date, to “protect the athletes.”
While it didn’t identify Singh, who faces two FIRs, the IOC made its stand clear: “The treatment of the Indian wrestling athletes over the weekend was very disturbing. The IOC insists that the allegations by the wrestlers are followed up on by an unbiased, criminal investigation in line with local law. We understand that a first step towards such a criminal investigation has been made, but more steps have to follow before concrete actions become visible.”
The world physique’s assertion assumes significance since India will host the IOC’s annual session in October the place the federal government hopes to current Gujarat as a candidate for the 2036 Olympic Games.
The IOC’s remarks additionally coincide with a statement by the United World Wrestling, the IOC-recognised worldwide physique of which the Wrestling Federation of India is part.
The UWW “firmly condemned” the therapy and detention of the wrestlers – calling it “worrisome” – and threatened to droop India from worldwide wrestling if contemporary WFI elections weren’t carried out inside a stipulated interval.
It is learnt that the IOC and the United World Wrestling are contemplating holding a joint digital assembly with the protesting wrestlers.
On Sunday, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia had been dragged into police vans, detained for hours and had FIRs filed towards them by the Delhi Police after they carried out a protest march in direction of the brand new Parliament whereas it was being inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Following this, the wrestlers Tuesday stated they might drop their medals into the Ganga and threatened to go on an indefinite starvation strike. It was solely late Tuesday night time that they determined towards it.
The UWW’s assertion additionally expressed disappointment over the “lack of results” of the investigation towards Brij Bhushan.
Last month, the IOA shaped an ad-hoc physique to manipulate wrestling in India, with a promise to carry contemporary elections inside 45 days of its formation. A little bit greater than two weeks are left to fulfill that deadline however there is no such thing as a formal notification to get the election course of underway.
“The 45-day deadline that was initially set to hold this elective assembly shall be respected. Failing to do so may lead UWW to suspend the federation, thereby forcing the athletes to compete under a neutral flag. It is reminded that UWW already took a measure in this situation by reallocating the Asian Championship planned in New Delhi earlier this year,” the UWW stated in an announcement revealed on its web site.
The IOC stated it has been in “close contact” with the UWW. “The IOC supports UWW as the competent sporting authority to address this issue as it pertains to the governance of the sport of wrestling in India. We have been informed by UWW that the President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) is currently not in charge,” the world physique stated. “The IOC will continue to support UWW in all their efforts and in the framework of the IOC Guidelines for International Federations and NOCs for safeguarding athletes from harassment and abuse in sport.”
Last week, the Delhi Police knowledgeable the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate of Rouse Avenue Court that the statements of the “victim” girls wrestlers have been recorded underneath Section 164 of the CrPC earlier than a Justice of the Peace. The court docket has listed the matter for additional listening to on June 27.
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