NEW DELHI: The Sports Ministry on Tuesday added former wrestler Babita Phogat's name in the Oversight Committee after several wrestlers expressed their displeasure that they were not consulted before the formation of the panel.
The Oversight Committee was formed by the ministry to undertake the day-to-day administration of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). The probe committee has to submit its report in a month's time.
The Oversight Committee is also doing an enquiry into the allegations of sexual misconduct, harassment and/intimidation, financial irregularities and administrative lapses of the WFI, as leveled by prominent sportspersons.
"Babita Phogat now becomes the sixth member of the Oversight Committee, being headed by Khel Ratna Awardee MC Mary Kom, Chairperson, Athletes Commission, Khel Ratna Awardee Yogeshwar Dutt, executive council member, IOA , Dhyanchand awardee Trupti Murgunde, member Mission Olympic Cell, Radhica Sreeman, Ex-Executive Director, TEAMS, Sports Authority of India, and Crd (Retd) Rajesh Rajagopalan, Ex-CEO, Target Olympic Podium Scheme," the sports ministry said in a statement.
Earlier, the government formed a five-member oversight committee to manage the WFI affairs till the probe is complete against WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who the wrestlers have accused of sexual misconduct and intimidation.
The wrestlers want a person of their choice in the committee, which has former wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt and Trupti Murgunde apart from two SAI officials as members.
Apparently, the wrestlers are not happy with Yogeshwar's presence in the committee as they consider the London Olympics bronze medallist close to the Federation chief.
The protesting wrestlers decided to call off their three-day-old dharna at Jantar Mantar against WFI president following marathon talks with Union sports minister Anurag Thakur, with Singh being asked to step aside for four weeks.
