Why Was The WFI Suspended By United World Wrestling?

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(Source: The Hindu, 08/29/23)

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Why in the news?

• Recently, the United World Wrestling (UWW), the world governing body for the sport, has provisionally suspended the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) primarily for not conducting its elections on time in the backdrop of the wrestlers’ protest over various issues.
• The UWW Disciplinary Chamber also considered the protection of athletes after the allegations against the former WFI president and the necessity to restore the functioning of the federation as another ground to suspend the national body.

Impact of Suspension of WFI?

• Cannot compete under the Indian national flag, including the upcoming World Championships in Belgrade.
• This applies to all UWW calendar events.
• However, Indian wrestlers and support personnel can participate in UWW-sanctioned events. However, they must compete under the UWW flag,
• No national anthem will be played if an Indian wrestler wins a gold medal.

What caused the delay?

• Prominent wrestlers, including Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, and Vinesh Phogat, brought forth allegations of sexual harassment, intimidation, financial irregularities, and administrative lapses against the then president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, and others.
• Delays were further caused by state associations seeking voting rights.
• The stays on the elections, initially by the Gauhati High Court and later by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
• Therefore, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) appointed an ad-hoc committee to oversee the WFI due to the lack of an elected body.

What are the issues with other sports bodies in India?

• Governance: Unclear demarcation of rights and responsibilities have created an environment of confusion and malpractice.
• For instance, in 2012 the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) was suspended from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for electing members with pending criminal cases against them in its governing body.
• This forced Indian athletes to compete at the Sochi Winter Games under the IOC flag, instead of the Indian banner.
• The All India Football Federation (AIFF) was suspended by FIFA in 2022 due to "undue influence" from outside parties.
• Lack of transparency: The absence of a framework for measuring the impact of public spending leads to corruption.
• The Indian Premier League, despite being one of the better-managed Indian professional leagues, has been embroiled in controversies like match-fixing in the recent past.
• Internal conflicts: One of the biggest challenges that India currently faces is these internal conflicts between former players, active players and the governing bodies. The cold war between Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes was seen in the past.

What is the way forward?

• There is a need for transparent and stable governance in India to safeguard athletes’ interests and preserve the sport’s integrity.
• It is of critical importance to adhere to international Standards, protocols and commitments.

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