The Sports Authority of India (SAI) on Wednesday decided to call the entire Indian cycling team back from Slovenia after a female cyclist accused head coach RK Sharma of “behaviour”. inappropriate” during training and competition.
India’s endurance team, consisting of five men and one woman, flew to Slovenia on May 15 and is scheduled to return on June 14.
SAI called back the cyclist who made the allegation and set up an investigative committee to look into the matter.
RELATED |
Cyclist complains of inappropriate behavior of coach, SAI sets up investigation committee
Cycling Federation of India (CFI) President Onkar Singh told PTI that SAI made the decision to cut the training short.
“The SAI official called the CFI this morning and said all the team including coach RK Sharma would be called back immediately from Slovenia,” Singh said.
It is reported that SAI has also sent a separate invitation to coach Sharma to return as soon as possible.
The training and competition trip to Slovenia was arranged to help the Indian team prepare well for the Asian Cycling Championship, scheduled to be held in the national capital from June 18-22.
The female cyclist received WRONG about her coach’s inappropriate behavior during her time in Slovenia and was so terrified she feared for her life.
The matter came to light on Monday when SAI released a statement, saying it had called the cyclist back to ensure her safety.
The complainant alleges that the coach forced her to share a hotel room with him on the grounds that the accommodation had been arranged on a two-person basis.
Then at her request, SAI arranged a private singles room for her but the coach did not take her to Germany to attend an event with other members of the team because of resistance.
The trainer threatened the cyclist that he would destroy her career by removing her from the National Center of Excellence (NCOE) if she didn’t sleep with him, according to the lawsuit. Fearing for her safety, the cyclist later decided to leave the training camp.
However, it was revealed that SAI had actually arranged a private room for her as she was the only female member of the team and did not need to share the room with anyone.
ALSO READ |
India’s men’s and women’s hockey teams depart for FIH Pro League matches against Belgium
“The SAI at its disposal had previously said that the athlete in question would be given a private room as she is the only female member of the team,” a SAI source said.
Coach Sharma will have to appear before a five-member investigative panel, led by the head of SAI’s internal sexual harassment committee.
The CFI has also established a four-member committee to investigate the matter and has promised full support to the victim.
The CFI’s board includes general secretary Maninder Pal Singh, SS Sudeesh Kumar (Chairman, Kerala Cycling), Dipali Nikam (head coach, Maharashtra cycling team) and assistant secretary VN Singh.
