In a serious development for Indian sports, a member of the national shooting coaching staff has been suspended following allegations of sexual harassment made by a minor athlete. The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has taken immediate action against coach Ankush Bhardwaj.
Allegations and Immediate Suspension
The NRAI confirmed that an FIR has been registered against Bhardwaj in Faridabad. The association's secretary, Rajiv Bhatia, stated that Bhardwaj has been suspended on moral grounds and will be issued a show-cause notice. "He has been suspended on moral grounds. Now, he has to prove himself innocent. Till the inquiry is not completed, he will not be associated with any coaching activity," Bhatia told PTI.
Bhardwaj's appointment came through an NRAI recommendation for a position in the 37-member coaching team assembled after the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Sports Authority of India (SAI) appointed him based on this recommendation. The alleged incident of sexual harassment is reported to have occurred in Surajkund.
Details of the Incident and FIR
While the NRAI secretary did not specify the exact date, the FIR filed by the victim provides a clearer timeline. The minor shooter alleges she was targeted last month following a training session at the prestigious Karni Singh Shooting Range. The athlete, who had been training under Bhardwaj since August of the previous year, described being left traumatised by the event.
She found the courage to speak about the incident in front of her mother on January 1, after persistent questioning. This led to the formal legal complaint being lodged against the coach.
Past Controversy and Current Fallout
This is not the first time Ankush Bhardwaj has been involved in controversy. The former pistol shooter served a doping ban back in 2010 for using a beta-blocker during his competitive career.
The NRAI's decisive step to suspend him underscores a zero-tolerance approach to such grave allegations, especially those involving a minor. The association has positioned the onus on Bhardwaj to prove his innocence during the forthcoming inquiry process. His future in Indian shooting now hinges entirely on the outcome of this investigation, which will determine any further disciplinary or legal actions.
