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The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Wednesday, 27 December formed a three-member ad-hoc panel to handle the working of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). This decision of the IOA comes after the Indian Sports Ministry suspended the Sanjay Singh-led WFI on Sunday, 24 December.
While Bhupendra Singh Bajwa has been appointed the Chairman of the ad-hoc committee, MM Somaya and Manjusha Kanwar complete the panel as members. The panel comes into existence after the Ministry of Sports directed the IOA to takeover the function after Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s aide, Sanjay Singh was elected as the Chief of WFI.
The committee is said to look into the matter of player selection, end name of players for international tournament, organise sporting events among others. In an official letter, the IOA ensured, “fair play, transparency, and accountability and to safeguard the interests of the sportspersons as espoused by IOC and to ensure continuity.”
The IOA also revealed that they have become aware of the arbitrary decision the newly elected committee made in regard to breach of their constitutional provisions. “The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has recently become aware that the recently appointed President and officials of WFI have made arbitrary decisions in violation of their own constitutional provisions and against the principles of good governance espoused by IOC and further without following due process overturned the rulings of the IOA - appointed Ad hoc Committee.”
