LONDON — India’s high wrestling athletes — Olympians and world champions alike — have taken to the streets in protest of allegations of sexual harassment and intimidation by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Chief, President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

The athletes accuse the WFI chief, 66, of sexual harassment over the span of greater than a a long time and have been staging protests in New Delhi — which have slowly intensified — since April 23.

At least seven athletes — together with a minor — have filed official complaints in opposition to Singh who has denied allegations, saying they’re “politically motivated” and asserting that he’s “ready to hang [him]self” if discovered responsible.

ABC News has reached out to Singh for remark.

On the frontline of the protests is two-time Olympian and first lady wrestler to win a gold for India within the Commonwealth and Asian video games, Vinesh Phogat, and her sister, Sangeeta Phogat. They are main protests alongside Olympic freestyle wrestler Sakshi Malik and fellow Olympic freestyle wrestler Bajrang Punia.

Phogat stated allegations of sexual harassment in Indian Wrestling are sometimes swept below the rug. “During the 2012 national camp, a sexual harassment complaint was lodged at a police station. Within 24 hours the case was hushed up,” Phoghat stated.

“Before we started our protests three months back, we had explained everything to a government official how sexual harassment was taking place and how women wrestlers were being tortured mentally,” she continued. “When we met the sports minister, the women wrestlers shared individual incidents related to sexual harassment. The girls were crying before him, but no action was taken at the time.”

On Sunday, the athletes had been joined by a whole lot of supporters as they marched in protest from their Jantar Mantar protest website in direction of India’s New Parliament constructing which was being inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

They referred to as for the arrest of Singh, who additionally serves as a member of parliament for Modi’s ruling BJP Political Party. But the athletes had been met with a heavy-handed police response as dramatic footage confirmed a number of of them being forcefully dragged away and briefly detained.

“Did we commit a crime by demanding justice for the sexual harassment committed against the female wrestlers? We have been treated like criminals,” they stated in a joint assertion. “We women wrestlers feel there is nothing left for us in this country.”

As a part of ongoing protests the athletes additionally deliberate to throw their Olympic medals into the Ganges River in protest.

“These medals are our life and soul. After we immerse them in the Ganges river, there would be no meaning for us to live,” they stated.

In a press release despatched to ABC News, an International Olympic Committee (IOC) spokesperson stated the therapy of India’s feminine wrestlers 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,” stated an IOC Spokesperson. “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. We urge that the safety and wellbeing of these athletes is duly considered throughout this process and that this investigation will be speedily concluded.”

Wrestling is one in all India’s most-successful sports activities, with the South Asian nation successful seven Olympic medals within the sport.

“The entire world is watching how the federal government is treating its gamers,” tweeted Phogat.

India’s sport minister Anurag Thakur has said the police are investigating the case and has urged athletes to have faith in the probe.