Govt green signal for Wrestling Federation of India elections: directs to IOA to set up ad-hoc committee

Govt holds Wrestling Federation of India polls, asks IOA to constitute ad-hoc committee to conduct elections within 45 days

The Government today put on hold the election process to the Executive Committee of the Wrestling Federation of India, WFI. The election was scheduled for the 7th of next month.

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has written to the President of the Indian Olympic Association saying that fresh elections to the Executive Committee should be conducted under a neutral body or Returning officer.

The Ministry has asked the Association to constitute an ad-hoc committee to conduct elections of the Executive Committee within 45 days of its formation and to manage the day-to-day affairs of WFI including the selection of athletes.

The letter also mentioned the findings of the Oversight Committee (OC) formed after allegations of sexual harassment, financial mismanagement and arbitrariness in the federation by prominent athletes against the WFI President.

The Ministry said that the Committee has submitted its report and it is currently under examination. As per the preliminary scrutiny of the report, it was found that there is no proper Internal Complaints Committee of the WFI and no adequate mechanism for grievance redressal. The Ministry stressed on the need for transparency, effective communication and consultation between WFI and the sportspersons.