The sports ministry has instructed the temporarily suspended wrestling federation to cease its operations.

In a recent communication to the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports has issued a stern directive, instructing the suspended federation to refrain from managing day-to-day activities immediately until further notice. The ministry emphasized that only the ad hoc body, appointed by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), possesses the authority to organize events. Any tournaments conducted by the WFI during this suspension period will be considered "unsanctioned and unrecognised," and the federation is explicitly prohibited from issuing letters for the organization of national championships.

The ad hoc panel, comprising three members, currently oversees wrestling activities after the newly elected WFI body faced suspension on December 24 due to violations of its constitution and the government's sports code. Despite this suspension, the WFI announced senior nationals scheduled in Pune from January 29-31, conflicting with the ad hoc panel's earlier announcement of the senior nationals in Jaipur from February 2-5.

The ministry's letter conveyed a clear message to the WFI, stating that it lacks the authority to issue circulars or use the federation's letterhead claiming affiliation with the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports. Competitions organized by the suspended WFI executive committee members will be considered unsanctioned, and any certificates or medals awarded during such events will hold no value for government schemes, job appointments, school or college admissions under sports quotas, or sports awards.

Furthermore, the ministry instructed the WFI to immediately cease using its letterhead for such prohibited purposes and highlighted that using the ministry's name, logos, and insignia is a violation of the National Sports Code. The directive explicitly mandates the WFI to abstain from the administration and management of the federation's day-to-day activities until further orders.

Amidst this, the WFI has called for an executive committee meeting in Delhi on January 16, creating uncertainty among wrestlers with conflicting announcements of two separate national championships and trials. WFI President Sanjay Singh has sought the lifting of the provisional suspension from United World Wrestling (UWW), arguing against IOA's control, while UWW urged cooperation to safeguard athletes and outlined conditions for suspension removal to ensure a secure environment.