SAI suspends coach on charges of harassing female wrestler

Hisar: The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has suspended a wrestling coach, who is facing charges of harassing a teenage woman grappler.

Satbir Panghal, a wrestling coach posted at SAI's centre situated in Haryana Agricultural University in Hisar, has been suspended, SAI sources said.

The coach has been directed to report to north zone SAI headquarter in Sonepat, sources said. Police on February 1 registered a case against Panghal for allegedly harassing a teenage woman wrestler.

The complainant alleged that Panghal, who was training here, sexually harassed her and other women wrestlers, aged between 14 to 18 years, police sources said.

Panghal was booked under various sections of the IPC and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO), on a complaint of the wrestler.

The Coach has already refuted the charges levelled against him by calling the complaint a "conspiracy" against him.