New Delhi: The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has terminated the contract of cycling coach R.K. Sharma who faces allegations of inappropriate behavior by a senior woman cyclist.
The national sports body has also called back the country’s entire contingent from a training camp in Slovenia where the alleged misconduct took place.
The woman cyclist complained to SAI a few days ago, prompting the sports body to form a committee to look into the matter.
The Cycling Federation of India (CFI), in a statement on 6 June, said it stood with the woman cyclist and that it would abide by the decision of the SAI committee on the matter.
The CFI also formed a four-member committee of its own to look into the allegations. Members are Maninder Pal Singh, SS Sudeesh Kumar, Dipali Nikam and VN Singh.
The Slovenia camp was an opportunity for cyclists to prepare for the upcoming Asian Track Cycling Championships scheduled in Delhi between December 18 and 22.
The complainant was the only woman member of the team that was to train for a month, till 14 June.
The woman cyclist, a winner of multiple gold medals, was asked to return to India by SAI soon after she sent the complaint on 1 June. She came back two days later.
The sports body said in a statement: “SAI has received a complaint from a cyclist of inappropriate behavior by a coach during a foreign exposure camp in Slovenia… SAI has immediately brought her back to India to ensure her safety… The matter is being dealt with on priority and will be resolved shortly.”
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