The Sports Ministry revoked the suspension on the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) on March 11 (Tuesday), allowing the body to resume hosting domestic tournaments and selecting national teams for international competitions. The WFI had been suspended on December 24, 2023, over the premature announcement of the Under-15 and Under-20 National Championships.
The Sports Ministry lifted the suspension on the WFI citing corrective actions taken by the federation and positive findings by the Spot Verification Committee. The ministry restored WFI’s recognition as the national sports body for wrestling with immediate effect. WFI president Sanjay Singh, a close associate of BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, will have the control over the federation.
“In view of the findings of the Spot Verification Committee, the compliance measures undertaken by the WFI, and in the larger interest of Indian sports and athletes, the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports hereby revokes the suspension of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) issued vide order of even number dated 24.12.2023 and restores its recognition as the National Sports Federation (NSF) for wrestling with immediate effect with following directions,” read the letter from the Ministry.
Ministry’s Directives To WFI
The ministry has also directed WFI to roll back amendments made during its suspension, ensure a balanced decision-making process and complete this within four weeks. It also instructed that non-elected or suspended officials remain disassociated from the federation.
“The WFI must revert the amendments carried out during the suspension period and have a balance of power among the designated office bearers and provide checks and balance in the decision making process and this process should be completed in 4 weeks.
“Any person who is not elected as an office bearer, as also the suspended/terminated salaried officials of the WFI must remain completely disassociated from the Federation and its affiliate units. The EC of WFI must give an undertaking in this regard within 4 weeks. Any violation of the undertaking will invite appropriate legal action, including the action under the Sports Code.
“The WFI must ensure that selection for all international events should be done in a free, fair and transparent manner as per the extant provisions of the Sports Code and the other latest instructions issued in this regard along with regulations issued from time-to-time by the UWW,” the letter read further.
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