Several wrestlers accused the former chief of sexual misconduct and harassment last year
\nNEW DELHI
\nWrestling\u2019s top global governing body has lifted its suspension of India\u2019s wrestling federation, six months after sanctioning it for failing to hold timely elections following a sexual harassment scandal.
\nSeveral wrestlers accused the Wrestling Federation of India\u2019s former chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, 67, of sexual misconduct and harassment last year.
\nThree of the sport\u2019s top Indian stars, including Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik and world champion Vinesh Phogat, led a weeks-long sit-in protest in New Delhi demanding Singh\u2019s ouster.
\nUnited World Wrestling (UWW) said in a Tuesday statement that it had decided to lift the suspension on February 9 under certain conditions, including the assurance that all wrestlers would be treated \u201cwithout any discrimination\u201d.
\n\u201cThis non-discrimination includes the three athletes who protested against alleged wrongdoings by the former president,\u201d it said.
\nThe end of the suspension was also conditional on a new election for the WFI\u2019s athletes\u2019 commission by July.
\nThe decision will allow Indian wrestlers to again compete in international tournaments under the national flag.
\nBut WFI\u2019s status remains unclear as India\u2019s sports ministry had issued its own suspension in December, on the grounds that the federation\u2019s board was apparently still controlled by former office bearers.
\nA close aide of Singh was elected to replace him during a December vote.
\nSingh, also a lawmaker from Prime Minister Narendra Modi\u2019s ruling party, was charged with sexual harassment and stalking after the allegations against him became public.
\nHe denies all charges, claiming he is a victim of a conspiracy to force him out of parliament, and has been released on bail.
\nThe public protest campaign against him culminated with the detention of several wrestlers when they attempted to march on parliament.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Several wrestlers accused the former chief of sexual misconduct and harassment last year NEW DELHI Wrestling\u2019s top global governing body has lifted its suspension of India\u2019s wrestling federation, six months after sanctioning it for failing to hold timely elections following a sexual harassment scandal. Several wrestlers accused the Wrestling Federation of India\u2019s former chief Brij […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":387249,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-387233","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n