The Sports Ministry announced their five-member oversight committee to investigate the various allegations raised by athletes against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) on Monday, January 23. Olympic medallists MC Mary Kom and Yogeshwar Dutt are among the biggest names on the committee,
Joining them will be Tripti Murgunde, a member of the Mission Olympic Cell, who will also be a part of the committee. Former CEO of TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme), Rajesh Rajagopalan and Radhica Sriman, former Executive Director (teams) of the Sports Authority of India (SAI).
"The president of the WFI will not work in his position and will stay away from the daily working of the WFI. The work of the federation will be taken over by the newly formed Oversight committee, which will also investigate the various allegations against the WFI," Sports Minister Anurag Thakur said during the press conference.
"The oversight committee will be headed by world champion MC Mary Kom. She will be joined by former Olympian and medal-winner Yogeshwar Dutt. Tripti Murgunde, member of the Mission Olympic Cell, will also be a part of the committee. Former CEO of TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme), Captain Rajgopal and Radhica Sriman, former ED (teams) of the Sports Authority of India, will make up the five-member committee."
"The committee, for the next month, will investigate the allegations after talking to all the involved personnel, and the wrestlers as well, after which they will submit their report. Till then, the committee will take over the day-to-day workings of the WFI," he concluded.
The news comes after the Sports Ministry suspended all the ongoing activities of the WFI with immediate effect unless the Oversight Committee is formally appointed and takes over the day-to-day functioning of the WFI.
The Sports Ministry has asked the WFI to cancel the ongoing Ranking Tournament in Gonda, UP and to return the entry fees charged to participants for the ongoing event.
In yet another decision, the Sports Ministry has issued an order to suspend the Assistant Secretary of WFI, Shri. Vinod Tomar, with immediate effect, to ensure the proper functioning of WFI.
