The IOA (Indian Olympic Association) on Friday announced the formation of a seven-member committee to investigate the allegations of sexual harassment against WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
The announcement came hours after the core protesters wrote a letter to IOA president PT Usha. The protestors asked for action against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and the federation.
The IOA revealed that after its executive committee meeting, it was decided to form a committee. The IOA committee would hear both sides, probe into the matter, and submit a report at the earliest. IOA members, including Olympians Mary Kom (Boxer), Dola Banerjee (Archer), and Yogeshwar Dutt (Wrestler ) are named in the probe panel.
The core protestors include world championship medallists Vinesh Phogat, Deepak Punia, Olympics podium finishers Ravi Dahiya, Bajrang Punia, and Sakshi Malik. They called off the protest on Friday night after the formation of the IOA committee headed by Mary Kom.
Meanwhile, Bajrang Punia said,
“We have full faith in the committee as announced by the minister. We are happy that a probe has been ordered. We are calling off our protest for now.”
The letter of the protestors read,
“It has taken a lot of courage for us wrestlers to come together and protest against the WFI President. We fear for our lives. If he is not sacked, then the careers of all the young who joined the dharna will be over. We will not budge until the WFI President is sacked.”
