NEW DELHI: After condemnation by the United World Wrestling (UWW), the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has condemned the manner in which the protesting Indian wrestlers were being treated by Delhi Police over the weekend, terming it “very disturbing” in a strongly-worded statement.
The IOC’s reaction follows the United World Wrestling’s (UWW) criticism of the detention of the grapplers during their protest at Jantar Mantar, in which the sport’s world body threatened to suspend the national federation if it fails to hold its election within the stipulated time, a newswire PTI report said.
The IOC has spoken out against the Delhi Police’s mistreatment of protesting Indian wrestlers, and demanded a speedy investigation into the allegations against BJP MP and Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
The IOC statement comes soon after the United World Wrestling (UWW), the international governing body for amateur wrestling, had criticisedthe police action against the protesting wrestlers and expressed disappointment at the lack of proper probe against Singh.
The top 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 said in the statement. “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.”
The IOC further said in its statement, “From the very beginning of the allegations, the IOC has been in close contact with United World Wrestling (UWW), which has already taken measures.
“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 asked the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to take the necessary 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”.
