Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has been requested to step other than his submit for 4 weeks by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on Friday, following allegations of sexual exploitation and intimidation by the nation’s high wrestlers.

Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur met with the wrestlers in New Delhi. Subsequently, the ministry introduced via an announcement, {that a} committee shall be fashioned to investigate into the allegations, and whereas the investigation will go on, Singh shall be requested to step down.

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“An Oversight Committee will be set up by the Ministry for the Wrestling Federation of India,” learn the assertion.

“The Committee will enquire into the allegations made by prominent sportspersons of Sexual Misconduct, Financial Irregularities and Administrative lapses; Undertake day-to-day administration of the WFI; Revisit the issues raised by players.

“The Oversight Committee will complete the enquiry in 4 weeks and till then, WFI president will step aside from the day-to-day functioning and he has assured to cooperate in the investigation.”

On Wednesday, the most important wrestlers within the nation – akin to, however not restricted to, Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Bajrang Punia, three-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist Vinesh Phogat, and Rio Olympics bronze medallist Sakshee Malikkh – lodged a protest on the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi to focus on the misdemeanours they alleged in opposition to Singh, and known as for the Wrestling Federation of India president to be faraway from his submit with instant impact.

Phogat highlighted Singh’s sexual harassment of girls’s wrestlers.

“I know at least 10-20 women wrestlers who have told me about the sexual exploitation they faced at the hands of the WFI president,” she stated at a press convention.

The wrestlers wrote a letter to the Indian Olympic Association as nicely, asking for the physique to arrange a committee to analyze the sexual harassment allegations in opposition to Singh, his resignation, the dissolving of the Wrestling Federation of India, and a committee to be fashioned to take care of the affairs of the sports activities federation.

Additionally, reacting to the letter despatched to them by the wrestlers, the Indian Olympic Association may also arrange a committee to analyze the allegations.

The IOA Executive Council – which included International Olympic Committee Athletes Commission Member and Beijing Olympics gold medallist Abhinav Bindra – met just about on Friday earlier than saying the creation of the committee.

“The EC unanimously decided that a Committee will be formed in accordance with the Prevention of Sexual Harassment of Women Act of 2013 and must hear both sides and submit a report to the IOA President. Instructions have been given to committee to meet at the earliest,” learn an announcement issued by the Indian Olympic Association.

The committee consists of, however is just not restricted to, London Olympics bronze medallist and six-time World Champion boxer MC Mary Kom, Commonwealth Games gold medallist-archer Dola Banerjee, and London Olympic bronze medal-winning wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt.

The Times of India reported that the wrestlers have known as off their protest following the statements by the sports activities ministry and Indian Olympic Association.