Indian Cyclist Accuses Coach Of Harassment, SAI Calls Back Contingent From Slovenia

The contingent had five males and a female player who flew to Slovenia on May 15 scheduled to return on June 14, news agency PTI reported.                  

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The Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Cycling Federation of India (CFI) have recalled the Indian contingent from Slovenia on Wednesday after a female cyclist accused the chief coach R K Sharma of “inappropriate behaviour” during the training-cum-competition tripping.      

The contingent had five males and a female player who flew to Slovenia on May 15 scheduled to return on June 14, news agency PTI reported.                  

SAI has already called back the cyclist, who made the allegations and formed an inquiry committee to look into the matter, it added. 

The CFI Chairman Onkar Singh told PTI that the decision of cutting short the trip to look into the matter has been taken by SAI. 

"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.

The PTI report added that the SAI also shot off a separate missive to coach Sharma to return as soon as possible.

The trip to Slovenia was arranged to help the Indian team prepare well for the Asian Track Cycling Championship, scheduled to be held in New Delhi from June 8 to 22. 

The female cyclist informed the SAI of the inappropriate behaviour by Coach Sharma during her stay in Slovenia and was so terrified that she feared for her life, PTI reported. 

The matter came to light on Monday after the SAI issued an official statement saying that the contingent has been called back to ensure her safety. 

According to the PTI report, the complainant claimed that the coach forced her to share a hotel room with him on the pretext that accommodation has been arranged on a twin-sharing basis. 

Though the SAI later arranged a separate single room for her on request, the coach did not take her to Germany for an event along with other members for putting up a resistance. 

The coach also threatened the cyclist that he will destroy her career by having her removed from the National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) if she will not sleep with him, the complaint added.

Fearing for her safety, she had then decided to quit the training camp.

Now, it has been revealed that the SAI had actually arranged for a separate room for her because she was the only female member of the contingent and there was no need for her to share the room with anyone.

"SAI in its direction had beforehand said that the athlete in question will be given a single room as she was the only female member in the contingent," an SAI source said.

As per the PTI report, Coach Sharma will have to appear before a five-member inquiry panel, which will be headed by SAI's internal sexual harassment committee head.

The CFI has also formed a four-member committee to probe the matter and had promised complete backing to the victim.

The CFI's panel includes secretary-general Maninder Pal Singh, SS Sudesh Kumar (President, Kerala Cycling), Dipali Nikam (chief coach, Maharashtra cycling team), and assistant secretary VN Singh.