Union sports ministry suspends WFI additional secretary Vinod Tomar

Tomar’s suspension came after the protesting wrestlers met with Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur.

Vinod Tomar said that he was not aware of any such development, India Today reported.

Vinod Tomar worked closely with WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, and looked after the sports body’s day-to-day working.

In a series of steps to address the complaints of the aggrieved wrestlers, the sports ministry also asked the WFI to cancel the ongoing Ranking Tournament in Uttar Pradesh's Gonda and return the entry fees charged to participants for the event.

The WFI president is also a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament (MP) from Uttar Pradesh.

He has denied allegations of sexual abuse and harassment, saying he would hang himself if any wrestler can prove the accusations.

The wrestlers began their protest at the Jantar Mantar on Wednesday and said they would continue until their demands are met.

Wrestlers like Olympic bronze medalist Bajrang Punia, world championship medalist Vinesh Phogat, Rio Olympics medalist Sakshi Malik, world championship medallist Sarita Mor, Sangeeta Phogat, Satyawart Malik, Jitender Kinha, and CWG medallist Sumit Malik among others have joined the protest.

Alleging that sexual exploitation and abuse have been going on for years, India’s star wrestler Vinesh Phogat, "I spoke out against it. Brij Bhushan Saharan Singh was sexually harassing the female wrestlers. No one takes responsibility for injuries. They talk of banning wrestlers from nationals. The WFI president called me khota sikka (useless). I wanted to commit suicide.”