Delhi High Court Restores IOA Oversight of WFI

The Delhi High Court ordered the restoration of the Indian Olympic Association's (IOA) ad hoc committee to manage the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). This decision came after IOA's dissolution of the committee was deemed incompatible with the Union Sports Ministry’s suspension of WFI following the December 2023 elections. The court rejected the plea to appoint a retired judge as WFI administrator but allowed IOA to reconstitute the committee with multiple members, including eminent sportspersons and experts. Wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Satyawart Kadian had filed the plea, citing unresolved abuse allegations against the former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The ad hoc committee will operate until December 24, 2024, unless the Sports Ministry withdraws or revises its order.