Sexual assault accused get a 'clean chit'

INCHEON: Two members of India's gymnastics squad, coach and a top player, who faced charges of verbal sexual assault hours before boarding the flight to Incheon can breathe a bit easy with the Sports Authority of India finding nothing substantial in the allegations made by a woman gymnast.
"We have completed a preliminary inquiry into the charges but we couldn't find much evidence against the accused.It seems like someone in the Gymnastics Federation of India wants to tarnish the image of these two persons and deny them a chance to go for the Games," SAI sources said from New Delhi.
They also said the Delhi police had allowed the two persons, one of them working with SAI, to travel to Incheon.
Few months back there were similar allegations against a top SAI official in Delhi but the charges against him are yet to be proved following an internal inquiry report.
Meanwhile, the entire gymnastics contingent stayed away from the media glare following the TOI story about the charges levelled by the gymnast.
None of the 18 members of the gymnastics squad was present at the flag hoisting ceremony at the Athletes Village.
Asked about the allegations against the two members of the contingent, chef-de-mission Adille Sumariwala said he is yet to hear anything from the Indian Olympic Association. "I'm not aware of any such incident and the IOA hasn't told me anything about the two continuing with the team," Sumariwala said.