The Sports Ministry has officially revoked the suspension of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), reinstating its status as the National Sports Federation (NSF) for wrestling. This decision comes after months of administrative turmoil, legal battles, and intervention from various stakeholders, including the Delhi High Court, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), and United World Wrestling (UWW). The Ministry’s order outlines key conditions that the WFI must fulfill to maintain its recognition and prevent further governance issues.
The suspension, originally imposed in December 2023, was a response to severe governance failures, procedural irregularities, and concerns that the newly elected WFI body was being controlled by former office bearers, in direct violation of the National Sports Development Code of India, 2011 ("Sports Code"). The government had determined that decisions made by the previous IOA-appointed Ad-hoc Committee had been disregarded, and critical protocols related to athlete welfare, selection transparency, and harassment prevention were not being properly upheld.
At the time, the Delhi High Court had intervened by reinstating the 2023 mandate of the Ad-hoc Committee to oversee the day-to-day affairs of the WFI. This ruling was influenced by petitions from prominent wrestlers such as Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat, who had raised concerns over the federation’s mishandling of abuse allegations and governance failures. Consequently, the Ministry had directed the IOA to establish a new Ad-hoc Committee to manage the WFI’s affairs, ensuring that all national and international athlete selections, participation entries, financial transactions, and operational decisions were carried out under its supervision.
As the dispute progressed, United World Wrestling (UWW), the sport’s global governing body, lifted its suspension on the WFI in February 2024 under strict conditions. The WFI was instructed to reconvene elections for its Athletes' Commission, ensuring that voting rights were reserved for active or recently retired athletes. UWW also mandated that all wrestlers be considered for trials and competitions without discrimination, including those who had previously protested against alleged misconduct by WFI leadership. Despite these conditions, the IOA dissolved its Ad-hoc Committee in March 2024 following UWW’s warning that continued third-party interference could lead to another suspension, this time affecting Indian wrestlers’ participation in international events.
A crucial turning point came in August 2024 when the Delhi High Court reaffirmed the authority of the Ad-hoc Committee. The ruling acknowledged the Ministry’s power to withdraw or review its previous suspension orders if the circumstances justified such a decision. Meanwhile, WFI had been actively appealing for its reinstatement, formally requesting the Ministry in October 2024 to withdraw the suspension imposed the previous year.
In response, the Ministry sought a detailed report from WFI in January 2025, requesting information on corrective measures taken to address past governance lapses. The WFI’s reply, submitted in early January, highlighted several key actions, including the formation of an Athletes’ Commission with voting rights, the establishment of an Ethics Commission, relocation of its registered office, and the creation of an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) to handle harassment cases. The WFI further assured that the ICC was actively involved in all competitions and events, gathering athlete feedback to ensure their safety and well-being.
Adding to the complexity, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) submitted an affidavit in October 2024, stating that neither the Olympic Charter nor its own constitution permitted external interference in the governance of a National Sports Federation affiliated with an international body. The IOA emphasized that any further attempts to impose an Ad-hoc Committee or other administrative body on WFI would likely be rejected by UWW and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), jeopardizing India’s representation in global wrestling events. UWW reinforced this position in January 2025, warning that any governmental interference in WFI’s affairs beyond financial oversight could lead to another suspension, with potential consequences for Indian wrestlers’ participation in UWW-mandated competitions.
Further complicating matters, media reports raised doubts about WFI’s operational transparency, specifically whether the federation was functioning from the address it claimed. To verify these claims, the Ministry conducted an on-the-spot inspection of WFI’s office premises, ultimately confirming that the federation had recently shifted its headquarters to a new location in Delhi.
As legal battles continued, the Delhi High Court intervened once again in March 2025, expressing concerns that the ongoing administrative vacuum could jeopardize Indian wrestlers' participation in the Senior Asian Championships, scheduled to take place later that month in Amman, Jordan. The court emphasized that the absence of a functioning governing body created an "unhappy situation" for Indian wrestling, making it difficult to organize national selections and ensure Indian athletes' participation in major international events. The High Court also noted that the Ministry had the authority to review its suspension order if necessary.
Taking all these factors into account—including the findings of the Spot Verification Committee, WFI’s compliance with mandated reforms, and the pressing need to ensure stable governance for the sport—the Sports Ministry ultimately decided to revoke the suspension. The order reinstating WFI comes with several conditions aimed at ensuring transparent and fair governance moving forward:
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The WFI must undo any amendments made during the suspension period and re-establish a balanced power structure among office bearers, with adequate checks and balances in the decision-making process. This must be completed within four weeks.
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Individuals who are not elected office bearers—including former officials who were suspended or terminated—must remain completely disassociated from WFI and its affiliate units. The Executive Committee of WFI must submit a formal undertaking confirming compliance within four weeks. Any violations will result in legal action under the Sports Code.
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All athlete selections for international events must be conducted in a transparent, fair, and merit-based manner, following the existing provisions of the Sports Code, regulations issued by UWW, and other relevant guidelines.
The Ministry has also reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that WFI adheres to the principles of good governance, athlete welfare, and the prevention of harassment in sports. Wrestling remains a "High Priority" category for Indian sports, given the country’s strong performances in global wrestling competitions, including the Olympics and Asian Games. The Ministry underscored that continued administrative instability could severely impact India’s medal prospects at the 2026 Asian Games and the 2028 Olympics.
With this reinstatement, the focus now shifts to whether the WFI can implement the necessary governance reforms while ensuring that Indian wrestlers receive the training, selection opportunities, and international exposure needed to maintain their competitive edge. The Ministry’s decision signals a crucial turning point for Indian wrestling, but the effectiveness of WFI’s reforms and its adherence to international governance standards will determine whether the federation can avoid future conflicts and maintain its credibility on the global stage.
