UPDATE: SAI terminated the contract of chief cycling coach R K Sharma, acting on a preliminary report of the inquiry committee.
Earlier, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) on Wednesday has called back the Indian cycling contingent from Slovenia after a female member of the team accused chief coach R K Sharma of sexual harassment during the training-cum-competition trip.
SAI has already called back the cyclist who made the allegations, and formed an enquiry committee to look into the matter.
The Indian endurance contingent, consisting of five male and a female, flew to Slovenia on May 15 and was scheduled to return on June 14.
The training-cum-competition trip was arranged to help the Indian team prepare for the Asian Track Cycling Championships, scheduled to be held in New Delhi from June 18 to 22.
The matter had come to light on Monday, when SAI issued a statement saying the female cyclist had informed it of inappropriate behaviour by the coach during her stay in Slovenia and was so terrified that she feared for her life.
It said it had called back the cyclist back to India to ensure her safety.
Among the incidents of harassment mentioned by the cyclist:
Before travelling to Slovenia, the coach told her she would have to share a room with him while there because accommodation had been arranged on twin-sharing basis. On arrival, though, SAI intervened on her request and arranged for a separate single room for her.
When the team was sent to Germany for an event, the female cyclist was left behind on grounds that there was no separate accommodation for her.
The coach threatened the cyclist that he would destroy her career by having her removed from the National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) if she will not sleep with him, according to the complaint.
Fearing for her safety, the cyclist had then decided to quit the training camp. She put her complaint in writing to SAI, which issued a statement on Monday.
Sharma will now have to appear before a five-member inquiry panel, which will be headed by SAI's internal sexual harassment committee head.
The CFI has also formed a four-member committee to probe the matter and had promised complete backing to the victim.
The CFI's panel includes secretary general Maninder Pal Singh, SS Sudeesh Kumar (President, Kerala Cycling), Dipali Nikam (chief coach, Maharashtra cycling team) and assistant secretary VN Singh.
In a statement, the Cycling Federation of India said she has its full backing. "The CFI stands with the complainant and has already convened to Sports Authority of India and her that the decision of the committee formed by the SAI will have the full support of the federation," the CFI said.