The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has indefinitely suspended Greco-Roman wrestler Sanjeev (55kg category) following the discovery of major inconsistencies in his official identity and domicile documents.
The federation’s disciplinary order, signed by WFI President Sanjay Kumar Singh, cites “serious discrepancies” between records from Delhi and Haryana including conflicting birth certificates, residency claims, and federal identification proofs. The case has quickly become a flashpoint in the federation’s renewed focus on integrity and compliance, coming just months after the WFI was reinstated by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports under strict governance conditions.
Sanjeev, who represented India at last year’s World Championships in a non-Olympic Greco-Roman weight category, is alleged to have maintained competing identities in Delhi and Haryana a deliberate strategy, investigators believe, to gain easier access to state-level selections and national camps.
According to official documents, the wrestler’s birth certificate was issued by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Rohini Zone in August 2022 more than 22 years after his recorded birth date (November 20, 2000). Within weeks, however, Sanjeev obtained a Resident Certificate from the Haryana government declaring his permanent address in Jind, Haryana.
The contradictions did not end there. His Aadhar card and records from Haryana’s Citizen Resource Information Department (CRID) also list Jind as his residence. Yet, in June 2023, Sanjeev received a passport from the Regional Passport Office in Delhi, which listed Delhi as both his place of birth and residential address.
The overlapping jurisdictions and compressed timeline point unmistakably to intent rather than administrative error. A senior WFI official remarked that “it is impossible for one individual to have valid, concurrent records claiming domicile in two separate states,” emphasizing that the case represents a deliberate attempt to manipulate competitive domicile.
Why Domicile Matters in Indian Wrestling
In Indian wrestling, domicile determines eligibility for state representation in national championships the first step toward national team selection. Haryana’s unparalleled wrestling ecosystem makes its state-level trials among the most competitive in the country. As a result, several athletes have been caught shifting or falsifying their official residence to smaller or less competitive regions, such as Delhi or Uttar Pradesh, where the path to selection is less congested.
This practice, informally known as “domicile arbitrage,” undermines the integrity of domestic competition and disadvantages genuine athletes from those states. By suspending Sanjeev, the WFI has effectively drawn a line under this decades-old malpractice, signaling that even senior, internationally capped wrestlers will not be immune to scrutiny.
The timing of the disciplinary action is significant. In late 2023, the WFI was provisionally suspended by the Sports Ministry for “irregular functioning” and poor governance. Recognition was restored earlier this year on the condition that the federation enforce strict adherence to the National Sports Code and demonstrate transparency in disciplinary proceedings. By swiftly acting against Sanjeev, the WFI appears determined to showcase compliance and rebuild credibility with regulators. Federation officials have already written to the MCD, Haryana CRID, and Regional Passport Office for formal verification, acknowledging that inter-agency coordination is essential to establishing the authenticity of the documents.
The WFI’s treatment of Sanjeev’s case reflects the hierarchy of disciplinary severity now embedded in its internal governance structure. Technical lapses such as Olympic medalist Aman Sehrawat’s one-year suspension for missing weight by 1.7 kg are now viewed as correctable errors. However, fraudulent representation or document fabrication is being treated as an integrity violation on par with match-fixing or doping.
Under the proposed National Code Against Age Fraud in Sports (NCAAFS 2025), intentional falsification of documents can attract a minimum two-year ban and forfeiture of any titles or benefits earned through deceit. If the investigation confirms deliberate fabrication, Sanjeev could face similar or harsher penalties.
A Larger Problem: Systemic Loopholes
The case exposes deep administrative flaws that extend beyond sport. The delayed issuance of birth certificates, often justified through Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) orders, has become a frequent gateway for fraudulent identity creation in multiple sports. An internal WFI audit revealed that out of 106 delayed certificates verified this year, 11 were found to be entirely fake, digitally edited, or untraceable in municipal databases. The MCD’s Rohini Zone which issued Sanjeev’s certificate featured prominently in these irregularities.
The WFI now plans to collaborate with UIDAI and state verification agencies to cross-check documents before clearing any athlete for national-level participation. Federation officials have also proposed implementing a “75% residency rule”, requiring athletes to prove that they live in the claimed state for at least nine months annually. Sanjeev’s suspension may only involve one athlete, but it carries far wider implications. For the WFI, still rebuilding credibility after years of turmoil, this case represents both a test and an opportunity.
If handled transparently and conclusively, the investigation could establish a new benchmark for integrity enforcement in Indian wrestling one that protects genuine athletes and restores faith in the federation’s governance.
However, should the inquiry falter or appear selective, it risks reigniting skepticism about the WFI’s commitment to reform. At its core, the Sanjeev case is about more than one wrestler’s alleged fraud it is about whether Indian wrestling can finally evolve into a system where merit, not manipulation, decides opportunity.
