Olympic Committee breaks silence on ‘disturbing’ therapy of Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has condemned the style during which the protesting Indian wrestlers had been being handled by Delhi Police over the weekend, terming it “very disturbing” in a strongly-worded assertion. The IOC’s response follows the United World Wrestling’s (UWW) criticism of the detention of the grapplers throughout their protest at Jantar Mantar, during which the game’s world physique threatened to droop the nationwide federation if it fails to carry its election throughout the stipulated time.

The high wrestlers — Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sangeeta Phogat — have accused the Wrestling Federation of India’s (WFI) outgoing president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual exploitation. “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,” the IOC stated within the assertion.

“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.”

Unprecedented scenes of police dragging Olympic and World Championships medallists, together with Sakshi, Vinesh, Bajrang and Sangeeta, had been witnessed when the wrestlers and their supporters breached the safety cordon throughout their march in the direction of the brand new Parliament constructing for the deliberate girls’s ‘Mahapanchayat’ on Sunday.

The wrestlers are demanding the arrest of Brij Bhushan for allegedly sexually harassing a number of girls wrestlers, together with a minor. The IOC additional stated in its assertion, “From the very starting of the allegations, the IOC has been in shut contact with United World Wrestling (UWW), which has already taken measures.

READ | Ahmednagar to develop into ‘Ahilya Nagar,’ declares Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde

“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 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.” The IOC requested the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to take the mandatory actions “to protect the athletes and to make sure that the elections of WFI are happening as planned and in line with the regulations of UWW as an International Federation”.

The wrestlers had referred to as for a girls’s Mahapanchayat on the new Parliament constructing at a time when it was being inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Expressing its disappointment over the “lack of results of the investigations so far”, the UWW on Tuesday stated that the sports activities physique will maintain a gathering with the wrestlers to inquire about their situation and security.

Regarding the WFI elections, wrestling’s worldwide governing physique stated in its assertion, “… UWW will request additional details about the following elective common meeting from the IOA and the Ad-hoc Committee of the WFI. The 45-day deadline that was initially set to carry this elective meeting shall be revered.

“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.” On April 27, a two-member ad-hoc committee was shaped to run the day-to-day affairs of WFI and likewise conduct the elections. It has been 34 days since, leaving the physique with simply 11 days to carry the polls.

READ | Delhi Sakshi homicide case: Accused Sahil taken to homicide spot to recreate crime scene