World Body Ready To Lift Suspension Of WFI After Alections: Nenad Lalovic

United World Wrestling (UWW) will not interfere in the pending case relating to the alleged sexual harassment of Indian women grapplers by former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh but will "listen to the voices of athletes" if they approach the world body again, its chief Nenad Lalovic said on Monday. Seven wrestlers, including Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik and Asian Games gold winner Vinesh Phogat, had alleged that Singh had sexually harassed female grapplers.

The Delhi police had filed a charge sheet against Singh on June 15. After prolonged protests, led by Vinesh, Bajrang and Sakshi, the Delhi Police filed a chargesheet against the six-time MP under various sexual offence charges.

The UWW also suspended the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) for not conducting elections in the given time frame.

“We followed all that happened during the wrestlers' protest and so on. We have concerns about the well-being of our athletes. This is another possibility to have a suspension,” said Lalovic, who was here to attend the 141st session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

“Now this case is followed by the Indian authorities, and we will not interfere in that except if athletes approach us again for some reason. We listen to the voices of the athletes no matter where they come from,” he added.

He said the suspension of the WFI would be lifted as soon as the elections are held.

“We will be the happiest to lift the suspension as soon as elections are held, and we know who our interlocutors are. Besides this, it's a huge administration work behind all the activity of the federation. At this moment, the administration work is done partially by the ad hoc committee but very much by UWW,” he said.

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