SAI terminates contract of cycling coach acting on inquiry committee's report

Sports Authority of India SAI on Wednesday terminated the contract of chief cycling coach R K Sharma acting on a preliminary report of an inquiry committee after a female cyclist accused him of inappropriate behaviour during a trainingcumcompetition tour of SloveniaSAI said the inquiry committee formed by it following the complaint found the allegations of the female cyclist to be trueSAI had constituted an inquiry committee to hear the case of a national level cyclists complaint against a coach of inappropriate behaviour during a foreign exposure trip in Slovenia which was organised by the Cycling Federation of India The committee has submitted its preliminary report today and prima facie the case is established and the allegations of the athlete are found to be true the SAI saidThe coach who was hired on recommendation of the Cycling Federation of India had a contract with the Sports Authority of India Following the report SAI has terminated the contact of the coach with immediate effect the statement addedSAI said the committee will continue a detailed investigation into the case and submit a final reportThe complainant was part of the Indian endurance contingent consisting of five male and a female that flew to Slovenia on May 15 and was scheduled to return on June 14SAI has already called back the cyclist who made the allegation to ensure her safety It has also called back the entire contingent from Slovenia in the aftermath of the incidentThe trainingcumcompetition trip to Slovenia was arranged to help Indian team prepare well for the Asian Track Cycling Championships scheduled to be held in the national capital from June 18 to 22The female cyclist had apprised the SAI of inappropriate behaviour by coach during her stay in Slovenia and was so terrified that she feared for her lifeThe matter had come to light on Monday when SAI issued a statement saying it has called the cyclist back to ensure her safetyThe complainant claimed that the coach forced her to share a hotel room with him on the pretext that accommodation has been arranged on twinsharing basisThe accused 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 according to the complaintFearing for her safety the cyclist had then decided to quit the training campLater on her request SAI arranged for a separate single room for her but the coach did not take her to Germany for an event along with the other members of the contingent for putting up resistanceThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever