Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, June 8: The Sports Authority of India (SAI) decided on Wednesday to pull the whole Indian cycling team out of Slovenia after a female racer accused chief coach R K Sharma of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ during the training/competition trip.
Five males and one female Indian endurance athlete travelled to Slovenia on May 15 and were due to return on June 14. The cyclist who made the charges has already been summoned by SAI and an investigation committee has been constituted to look into the incident. SAI has decided to shorten the training trip, according to the Chairman of the Cycling Federation of India (CFI), Onkar Singh.
“SAI official called up CFI this morning and said all the contingent including coach RK Sharma will be called back immediately from Slovenia,” Singh said.
According to reports, SAI also sent a separate message to coach Sharma, requesting that he return as quickly as possible.
The training/competition trip to Slovenia was organised to assist the Indian squad in their preparation for the Asian Track Cycling Championships, scheduled to be held in the national capital from June 18 to 22.
Notably, the female cyclist had reported inappropriate behaviour by the coach to the SAI during her stay in Slovenia and was scared for her life.
The case was brought to light on Monday when SAI released a statement claiming that the rider had been summoned to assure her safety. The coach will now have to testify in front of a five-member investigation panel led by the head of SAI’s internal sexual harassment committee.
The CFI has also constituted a four-member committee to investigate the situation and has assured the victim of its full support. Secretary general Maninder Pal Singh, SS Sudeesh Kumar (President, Kerala Cycling), Dipali Nikam (head coach, Maharashtra cycling team), and assistant secretary VN Singh make up the CFI’s panel.
