India's top wrestlers wrote to the Indian Olympic Association President PT Usha on Friday asking for an official probe into the sexual harassment complaints against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and listing down the allegations of mental abuse and financial misappropriation against him.
The wrestlers, who have been sitting in protest since Wednesday, have demanded the resignation of Sharan Singh and the dissolution of WFI in the first official written complaint on public record. The letter was shared by the wrestlers on social media and the signatories include Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia, Ravi Dahiya, Sakshi Malik and World Championship medallists Vinesh Phogat and Deepak Punia. The letter also asked for a new committee to run WFI in consultation with the wrestlers
"On behalf of the wrestlers in the country, we would like to bring to your notice some very serious complaints of sexual harassment against WFI President Shri. Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. These complaints have been informed to us by several young wrestlers," the letter said.
"In addition there has been financial misappropriation on the part of the WFI. Contract payments were agreed with some of the senior wrestlers in the last few years through sponsorship received from TATA Motors. These payments were only partly made by WFI."
@PMOIndia @AmitShah @ianuragthakur @PTUshaOfficial pic.twitter.com/PwhJjlawPg
- Vinesh Phogat (@Phogat_Vinesh) January 20, 2023