IOA To Form Ad-Hoc Committee To Conduct WFI Executive Committee Elections Within 45 Days: Sports Ministry

The Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced on Monday that the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) will be forming an ad-hoc committee to conduct the elections for the Executive Committee of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) within 45 days of its formation, to manage day-to-day affairs of the body, including the selection of athletes and making entries for the participation of players in international events. This committee will be functioning for an interim period till a new Executive Committee takes charge.

A letter from the Sports Ministry, the Under Secretary to the Centre, said, "I am directed to say that the Ministry, vide order dated 23 January 2023, has appointed an Oversight Committee (OC) for the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) after allegations made by certain prominent athletes against the President, Officials and some coaches of the Federation for sexual harassment, as also regarding financial mismanagement and arbitrariness in the Functioning of the Federation."

The letter pointed out that the oversight committee has submitted its report to the Sports Ministry and is currently under examination. The preliminary scrutiny of the report has resulted in the following major findings:

-Absence of a duly constituted Internal Complaints Committee under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act, 2013, and lack of an adequate mechanism for awareness building among sportspersons, for grievance redressal, etc.

-Need for more transparency and consultation between the Federation and stakeholders, including the sportspersons

-Need for effective communication between the Federation and the sportspersons.

"It may also be noted that after the submission of the report, the OC has ceased to exist," added the