Ethical and legal dimensions of sexual harassment in sports: The case of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

This commentary draws critical attention to the gross neglect of athletes' safety within the sports environment in India, focusing on the neglect of principles of fairness, mutual respect and ethics, especially as they impact women. We look specifically at the abandonment of ethical (and legal) frameworks in dealing with complaints of sexual harassment from women wrestlers in Haryana, registered over years, against the head of the Wrestling Federation of India. The Sports Ministry showed complete indifference not only to the principles of fair play and a safe environment, but to basic ethics in dealing with gendered violence and the trauma suffered by women and girls. The essay also highlights the importance of the effective and impartial conduct of the legal processes necessary to support ethical conduct in the emerging sporting space in India.