The Indian Olympic Association on Monday dissolved the ad-hoc committee fashioned to manipulate wrestling within the nation with quick impact with sure circumstances. The choice clears the best way for the Sanjay Singh-led WFI to lastly take cost of the game nearly three months after being elected.
The ad-hoc committee was fashioned on December 24, three days after elections to the Wrestling Federation of India that have been declared to be in violation of the sports activities code and the federation suspended by the federal government.
The three-member advert hoc panel consisting of Bhupender Singh Bajwa, M.M. Somaya and Manjusha Kanwar had lately organised choice trials for the Asian Championships and Olympic qualifiers collectively with the WFI, with the latter offering technical assist.
“The decision to dissolve the ad-hoc committee comes in light of the lifting of the ban on the Wrestling Federation of India by the United World Wrestling and the successful completion of selection trials by the ad-hoc committee as per the directives of the High Court of Delhi. Consequent upon the aforementioned developments, there is no further need for running the activities of the WFI through an ad-hoc committee,” the IOA letter acknowledged.
Interestingly, the IOA panel went forward with organising the trials although the UWW had clarified its stand on recognising the elected WFI in February itself and reiterated the identical earlier this month, insisting that solely a crew submitted by the federation can be acceptable, necessitating the joint organisation of trials.
“However, as instructed by the UWW, it is imperative the WFI appoint a safeguarding committee/officer at the earliest to address the concerns of abuse and harassment and to ensure adherence to all rules, regulations and guidelines set forth by the UWW and other relevant authorities. Furthermore, the WFI is also directed to conduct elections of the athletes commission in a time-bound manner…,” the letter added.
The UWW recognition letter of February 13 had given WFI time until July 1 to re-elect the Athletes Commission. The federation has additionally been requested to repay the IOA mortgage to the ad-hoc committee for operating the WFI.
