IOA to constitute ad-hoc committee to manage WFI affairs

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in news?
• What is Wrestling Federation of India (WFI)?
• Background: IOA to constitute ad-hoc committee to manage WFI affairs

Why in news?

• The Sports Ministry have requested the Indian Olympic Association to constitute ad-hoc committee to manage and control affairs of the federation.
• Earlier, the ministry had suspended the newly elected Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) body.

Wrestling Federation of India (WFI)

• About
  • It is a governing body of wrestling founded in 1958 and is based in New Delhi.
  • It promotes wrestling players for the Olympics, Asian Games, National Wrestling Championships, and World Wrestling Championships.
• Affiliation
  • WFI is affiliated with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).
  • It follows the rules and regulations set by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and United World Wrestling (UWW).
    • UWW is the international governing body for the sport of wrestling. Its duties include overseeing wrestling at the World Championships & Olympics.
• WFI’s Contract System for Wrestlers:
  • In 2018, the WFI rolled out its revolutionary contracts system for the grapplers. Under the system, the wrestlers have been placed in four grades –
    • Grade A offers financial assistance of 30 lakh rupees;
    • Grade B contract offers a financial assistance of 20 lakh rupees;
    • The C category offers support of 10 lakh rupees;
    • The D category offers support of 5 lakh rupees.
  • The contracts are reviewed after one year.

Background

• India’s Top Wrestlers Started Protests
  • Veteran Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat had alleged that WFI President Brij Bhushan has been involved since many years in sexually exploiting women wrestlers.
  • She further claimed that several coaches at the national camp in Lucknow have also exploited women wrestlers.
  • The other wrestlers have also alleged financial mismanagement and arbitrariness in the functioning of the WFI.
  • The wrestlers demanded that:
    • an FIR be registered against Brij Bhushan on the basis of their police complaint, and
    • he be arrested under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act as one of the complainants is a minor.
  • They have also demanded that he should be removed as the WFI president, and that the federation should be dissolved.
• Formation of Oversight Committee
  • In January 2023, the government persuaded the wrestlers to call off their protest by forming an Oversight Committee.
  • The six-member committee, headed by boxing legend MC Mary Kom, was given four weeks to come up with its findings.
  • However, it submitted its report only in the first week of April.
    • The committee has since been disbanded.
• Election in WFI
  • Following the fresh protests, the Government declared the ongoing process for the WFI elections, which were scheduled for May 7th, null and void.
  • Later, the federation tried to conduct the election on multiple occasions. However, the elections had been repeatedly postponed.
    • As a result, the UWW suspended WFI for not conducting elections on time. It is yet to lift the ban.
  • WFI scheduled the election for December 21 and Brij Bhushan's loyalist and aide Sanjay Singh elected as new WFI chief.
• Fresh protests after the election
  • Sanjay Singh’s appointment was opposed by wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia.
    • While Sakshi announced her retirement in protest, Bajrang returned his Padma Shri award.
• Sports ministry suspended the newly elected Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) body
  • The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports suspended the WFI's newly elected governing council.
    • As per the National Sports Code, the Ministry of Sports could suspend the recognition of any of the existing National Sports Federations (NSFs) on various grounds mentioned in the code.
  • The suspension was attributed to the hasty announcement of the Under-15 (U-15) and Under-20 (U-20) National Championships by the newly elected President of WFI, Sanjay Singh.
  • Another reason for the suspension of the newly elected body was the absence of the Secretary-General of WFI, Prem Chand Lochab, in the meeting where the new competitions were announced.
    • WFI constitution maintains that presence of Secretary-General is necessary to convene any meeting and announce any competition.

Q1) What is Indian Olympic Association (IOA)?

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) is a non-profit organization that was established in 1927. The IOA is India's national Olympic organization and is recognized by the International Olympic Committee. 

Q2) What is United World Wrestling (UWW)?

United World Wrestling (UWW) is the international governing body for amateur wrestling. It oversees wrestling at the Olympics and World Championships, and manages international competitions for various wrestling styles, including freestyle, Greco-Roman, and grappling.

Source: Sports Ministry requests IOA to constitute ad-hoc committee to manage WFI affairs | Wrestling Federation of India | Business Standard