FOR the first time since India’s top wrestlers, including 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 statement came hours after the wrestlers — including 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 query from The Indian Express, said that the “treatment” meted out to the athletes over the weekend, when they were manhandled and detained for hours, was “very disturbing.”
Protesting wrestlers sit at Har ki Pauri, in Haridwar district. (PTI)
The IOC asked 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.”
Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sangeeta Phogat and Bajrang Punia with supporters during their protest march towards new Parliament building, in New Delhi, Sunday, May 28, 2023. (PTI Photo)
The IOC also urged the IOA, headed by P T Usha, which has been conspicuous by its silence so far, to “protect the athletes.”
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While it did not name 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 body’s statement assumes significance since India will host the IOC’s annual session in October where the government hopes to present Gujarat as a candidate for the 2036 Olympic Games.
Sangeeta Phogat and Vinesh Phogat being detained by police. (Express photo by Amit Mehra)
The IOC’s remarks also coincide with a statement by the United World Wrestling, the IOC-recognised international body of which the Wrestling Federation of India is a part.
The UWW “firmly condemned” the treatment and detention of the wrestlers – calling it “worrisome” – and threatened to suspend India from international wrestling if fresh WFI elections were not conducted within a stipulated period.
Sakshi Malik, in blue, an Indian wrestler who won a bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics, is detained by the police during a protest demonstration at Jantar Mantar. (PTI)
It is learnt that the IOC and the United World Wrestling are considering holding a joint virtual meeting with the protesting wrestlers.
On Sunday, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia were dragged into police vans, detained for hours and had FIRs filed against them by the Delhi Police after they carried out a protest march towards the new Parliament while it was being inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Following this, the wrestlers Tuesday said they would drop their medals into the Ganga and threatened to go on an indefinite hunger strike. It was only late Tuesday night that they decided against it.
The UWW’s statement also expressed disappointment over the “lack of results” of the investigation against Brij Bhushan.
Wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia. (Photo: Praveen Khanna)
Last month, the IOA formed an ad-hoc body to govern wrestling in India, with a promise to hold fresh elections within 45 days of its formation. A little more than two weeks are left to meet that deadline but there is no formal notification to get the election process 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 said in a statement published on its website.
The IOC said 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 body said. “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 informed the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate of Rouse Avenue Court that the statements of the “victim” women wrestlers have been recorded under Section 164 of the CrPC before a magistrate. The court has listed the matter for further hearing on June 27.