CWG fallout: WFI suspends referee Virender Malik

The Wrestling Federation of India suspended referee Virender Singh Malik on Monday after he was arrested on charges of sexual assault in Glasgow on the penultimate day of the Commonwealth Games.

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) suspended referee Virender Singh Malik on Monday after he was arrested on charges of sexual assault in Glasgow on the penultimate day of the Commonwealth Games.

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) secretary-general Rajeev Mehta was also held after a separate charge of drink-driving on Saturday. The two IOA officials, reportedly staying in hotels outside the accommodation arranged for Games contingents, were lodged in custody over the weekend.

“If the charges against him (Malik) are proved, we may even consider banning him for life… The duo has put the pride of our nation at stake. Such actions are uncalled for and need to be dealt with sternly,” WFI joint secretary Bholanath Singh told HT in Ranchi.

“We know he (Malik) is in big trouble but he has lost all our sympathy due to his misconduct,” Singh added.

The arrests were the latest embarrassment for the IOA some of whose elected officials were accused of corruption related to the chaotic 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

The International Olympic Committee froze India's membership in December 2012 over the graft charges. The ban was finally lifted in February this year after the IOA agreed to revise its constitution.