United World Wrestling threatens to reimpose WFI suspension, Indian wrestlers too may face brunt

In an unending saga of the Wrestling Federation of India, the United World Wrestling has threatened to reimpose its earlier ban on the Indian body for inteference from the government.

And this time, along with the WFI, the international body might suspend Indian wrestlers too, jeopardising the country's Olympic plans.

This move by the world wrestling unit comes after the Delhi High Court recently asserted that it will not recognise or provide support to the WFI.

The court also asked the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to file an affidavit detailing the reasons behind the dissolution of the ad-hoc panel on March 18, 2024. The committee was in-charge of WFI's affairs.

In an email statement, UWW chief Nenad Lalovic reiterated the organisation's stance to not tolerate any third-party interference in the workings of the national wrestling body.

'In case any decision or order should be made against your federation, and a third party be designated to run the daily affairs of our sport in India in violation of the UWW Statutes, UWW would have no other option than to re-impose a temporary suspension of your federation until further notice, and which, this time, could maybe include your athletes,' Lalovic wrote.

The statement also detailed how the wrestlers' participation in the final Olympic Games Qualifying Tournament in May would also be affected and how this suspension, if imposed, would also attract the attention of the International Olympic Committee, who may also consider further action.

What is WFI's international and national status now?

The WFI's international suspension was lifted by the UWW in February 2024 following which the IOC also reinstated it, therby dissolving the ad-hoc committee in March.

However, WFI remains suspended in India by the Sports Ministry for violating the National Sports Code in December 2023.

India's Wrestling Dreams for Paris

India have secured three Olympic spots so far in the women's wrestling while the men are yet to open their accounts.