New Delhi: The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has been suspended by the world wrestling body, United World of Wrestling, over failure to conduct elections. The WFI was embroiled in controversy since former president Brij Bhushan Sharan was accused of alleged sexual harassment by some wrestlers. The federation could not hold elections in June 2023 due to multiple protests over the issue.
The suspension means that India will not be allowed to compete at the upcoming World Championships
Indian wrestlers will have to compete as ‘neutral athletes’ at the Olympic-qualifying World Championships starting September 16 as the ad-hoc panel, led by Bhupender Singh Bajwa, did not honour the 45-day deadline for conducting the elections, according to PTI.
The IOA had appointed the ad-hoc panel on April 27 and the committee was supposed to hold elections within 45 days.
UWW had on April 28 warned that it could suspend the Indian federation if the deadline to hold elections is not honoured.
“The UWW communicated to the ad-hoc panel on Wednesday night that WFI has been suspended for not holding elections to its executive committee,” an IOA source told PTI.
