Sports Ministry’s Stringent Action: Suspension of Sanjay Singh-Led WFI Body Raises Governance Concerns
New Delhi, 24-12-2023 : The Sports Ministry has taken decisive action by suspending the newly elected body of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) under the leadership of Sanjay Singh. The suspension stems from what the ministry deems a ‘hasty’ announcement regarding the organization of national championships. Sanjay Kumar Singh, elected as WFI President, declared on the day of his election that U-15 and U-20 wrestling nationals would occur in Nandini Nagar, Gonda (UP) before the year’s end. The ministry expressed concern over the impromptu nature of the announcement, lacking sufficient notice for participating wrestlers and violating the constitutional provisions of WFI.
The letter issued by the ministry emphasized that decisions about national championships, in accordance with UWW Rules, should be made by the Executive Committee, preceded by the submission of agendas for consideration. It underscored the importance of adhering to WFI’s constitution, including the requisite notice period for Executive Committee meetings. Notably, the suspension is partly attributed to the absence of the Secretary General during the meeting, which took place without proper notice or quorum.
The ministry raised alarm about the apparent influence of former office bearers on the newly elected body, indicating a departure from the principles outlined in the Sports Code. It highlighted concerns about the business operations being conducted from premises controlled by former office bearers, where allegations of sexual harassment are currently under court scrutiny. The decisions made by the new executive body were criticized for their disregard of legal and procedural norms, violating both WFI’s constitution and the National Sports Development Code.
The ministry asserted that adherence to governance norms is crucial for ensuring fair play, transparency, and accountability. It emphasized the need for trust-building among athletes, stakeholders, and the public. Moreover, the suspension remains in effect until the international body for wrestling, UWW, issues an official communication lifting WFI’s suspension.
As of now, the Sports Ministry has not released an official statement to the media regarding this matter.
#WFIControversy #SportsMinistry #WrestlingNationals #GovernanceIssues #WFISuspension #SportsCodeViolation #WrestlingFederationIndia #NationalSportsDevelopmentCode
