Wrestling Federation of India Timeline: From Allegations, Polls to Suspension, Lifting of Ban, Dissolving of Ad-Hoc Panel

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) dissolved the ad-hoc committee that had been running the wrestling federation after the successful conduct of elections and the selection trials for the Paris Olympics qualifying tournament.

The ad-hoc committee was formed last year after the sports ministry suspended the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) after the world governing body - the United World Wrestling (UWW) - suspended the Indian federation for not holding elections on time.

A three-member ad-hoc committee, under the chairmanship of Bhupender Singh Bajwa, came into effect on December 23 after the newly-elected WFI, led by Sanjay Singh, flouted their own rules. However, after the successful completion of the trials, the reins of the sport have now been handed over to WFI.

A timeline of events that transpired in the WFI

It all started when Indian wrestlers, including Olympians, started a protest in New Delhi demanding the resignation of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh Charan of sexual exploitation and the dissolution of WFI.

2023

January 18: Wrestlers begin protests in New Delhi, demanding the dissolution of WFI and the ouster of Brij Bhushan.

January 20: Wrestlers send a written communication to Indian Olympic Association president PT Usha. Their demands include the formation of an inquiry committee to probe the allegations against Brij Bhushan.

January 20: IOA forms a seven-member committee to probe the allegations of sexual harassment. Noted Indian athletes MC Mary Kom and Yogeshwar Dutt are a part of the panel.

January 21-24: Wrestlers call off protests after meeting Sports Minister Anurag Thakur. The ministry forms an Oversight Committee to look into allegations and submit a report in four weeks. Meanwhile, the wrestlers express their disappointment over the fact they were not consulted on who would be included in the Oversight Committee.

April 16: WFI announces election date. Oversight Committee submits a report to the ministry. The details of the findings are not made public.

April 23: The protest returns to Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Seven female wrestlers, including a minor, filed sexual harassment charges against Brij Bhushan.

April 24: Sports Ministry stalls the WFI elections, scheduled to be held on May 7. The Ministry then directs the Indian Olympic Association to form an ad-hoc body and conduct elections within 45 days of its formation.

April 25: Wrestlers move Supreme Court seeking registration of the FIR they had filed against Brij Bhushan. The Supreme Court issues a notice to Delhi police to expedite the same.

April 27: The Indian Olympic Association forms a three-member panel.

May 3: The protesting wrestlers clash with the Delhi police. Wrestlers suffer head injuries. The protesters accuse “drunk officials of manhandling” them and “misbehaving” with female wrestlers.

May 4: Police registers FIRs and the complainants are provided with security. The Supreme Court closes the plea after an FIR has been registered.

May 5: Delhi police record the statements of wrestlers.

May 10: Wrestlers challenge Brij Bhushan to take a NARCO test.

May 11: Delhi police record Brij Bhushan’s statement on the cases levelled against him.

May 28: Wrestlers try to take a march towards the new Parliament building. Police try to stop the wrestlers. Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, along with other protesters, booked for rioting and obstructing public servants in discharge of their duty.

May 30: Wrestlers reach Haridwar to immerse their medals in the river Ganga. Stops after officials intervene. The International Olympic Council and the United World Wrestling condemn police’s handling and detention of the Indian wrestlers.

June 7: Wrestlers call off their protest after Anurag Thakur assures that police investigation against Brij Bhushan would be conducted and concluded soon.

June 13: The WFI elections are scheduled for July 6.

June 15: Delhi Police files a charge sheet before court against Brij Bhushan.

June 21: The ad-hoc panel postpones the elections to July 11 after five disaffiliated state bodies seek voting rights for the elections.

June 22: The ad-hoc panel decides to hold the Asian Games and World Championship selection to a one-bout contest for protesting wrestlers.

June 23: The move raises eyebrows as many coaches and parents of wrestlers demand withdrawal of exemption given to protesting wrestlers.

June 25: The Gauhati High Court stays the WFI elections after the Assam Wrestling Association files a plea.

July 18: A Delhi court grants interim bail to Brij Bhushan. Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat get direct entries to the Asian Games.

July 19: A new date of August 7 is given for the WFI election.

July 20: Junior wrestlers and coaches throng to the IOA headquarters. They demand that their plea of withdrawing exemption granted to Vinesh and Bajrang be heard.

July 20: Meanwhile, another new date for the WFI election is given as August 12.

August 11: Haryana Wrestling Association jumps into the picture. Files a petition and the Punjab and Haryana High Court stays the August 12 WFI elections.

August 23: The world governing body - the United World Wrestling (UWW) - suspends the WFI for not holding its elections on time.

December 5: Another new date for WFI elections announced. Elections to be held on December 21.

December 21: The WFI elections are successfully held. Sanjay Singh, a Brij Bhushan loyalist, wins the election. He is now elected as the new WFI president. Wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Sakshi hold a press conference. Sakshi announces retirement from wrestling.

December 22: Bajrang Punia returns the Padma Shri after Sanjay Singh’s win.

December 24: The WFI runs into fresh trouble after the Sports Ministry suspends WFI till further orders. The reason for the suspension - the newly-elected body announced holding of the U-15 and U-20 national championships without giving sufficient notice to wrestlers.

2024

February 13: United World Wrestling lifts its provisional suspension on WFI. The governing body is also asked to give a written undertaking that there will not be any discriminatory action against Bajrang, Vinesh, and Sakshi.

March 9: The Delhi High Court disallows WFI from holding trials. It directs an ad-hoc panel to hold trials and select teams for the Asian Wrestling Championships and the Olympic qualifiers.

March 18: The IOA dissolves the ad-hoc committee for wrestling after the successful conduct of the trials.