WFI president accuses IOC and Sports Ministry of interference in a letter to IOC

Add as a preferred source on Google

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has taken its fight with the Government of India after the newly-elected panel was suspended and an ad hoc panel was appointed by the Sports Ministry and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

The newly-elected president, Sanjay Singh, has not minced words in his letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in expressing his concerns, alleging interference and a direct attack on the independence of the WFI.

This has prompted him to address the IOC chief, Thomas Bach, and the United World Wrestling president, Nenad Lalovic, seeking intervention and justice. The controversy stems from the election held on December 22, where candidates backed by the Sports Ministry and the IOA failed to secure victory. Sanjay Singh, a close aide of BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, claims that the interference began when their preferred candidates were unsuccessful.

According to a letter accessed by The Tribune, Sanjay alleges that the IOA officials attempted to manipulate the electoral college to influence the election outcome.

In a strongly-worded letter to the IOC chief and the United World Wrestling (UWW) president, Sanjay Singh points out that the suspension imposed by the Sports Ministry is a blatant violation of the IOC charter, which advocates for political neutrality and autonomy for sports bodies.

Additionally, he argues that the move contradicts the UWW's constitution, which emphasises the preservation of autonomy for affiliated units without succumbing to political, religious, or economic pressures.

Sanjay Singh did not shy away from accusing the IOA, led by PT Usha, of acting as a proxy for the Sports Ministry. He alleges that the IOA's actions align with the Ministry's agenda, raising questions about the neutrality and independence of the Indian Olympic Association in this matter.

The letter submitted to the IOC and UWW suggests that the Ministry's suspension order was hastily executed, coming just three days after the election, signaling a swift and forceful response to the unfavorable results.