On Tuesday, the sports ministry lifted the suspension placed on the Wrestling Federation of India after more than a year, as reported by PTI. The choice was reached in December 2023 following claims of various problems within the administration, leading to the ministry’s suspension until further notice.
The move followed a contentious decision made by the organization concerning the arrangement of the U15 and U20 national trials.
The ministry criticized the Wrestling Federation of India for what it considered a rushed announcement, claiming that the athletes were not given enough notice for proper preparation.
The ministry clarified that WFI had not been dissolved and was managed by an ad-hoc committee prior to the suspension being lifted. The ministry stated in its order that the Wrestling Federation of India has implemented corrective actions, leading to its decision to revoke the suspension.
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Elections for the Wrestling Federation of India took place on December 21, 2023, leading to Sanjay Singh and his panel, supporters of ex-president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, winning by significant margins.
In January 2023, a group of Olympians and global wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, and more, staged a sit-in calling for the dissolution of WFI due to claims of sexual harassment against female wrestlers by Brij Bhushan.
Even with the leadership change in December 2023, the ministry made it clear that the suspension is not a termination but rather a temporary action until proper procedures and regulations are followed.
