SAI suspends PT Paulose over sexual harassment allegations

Kochi: The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has suspended Asian Games bronze medalist PT Paulose, India’s first Olympic rower and director of high performance at the National Center of Excellence at Alappuzha, from his duties and shifted him to the Imphal center after a female rowing assistant coach made sexual harassment allegations.“Paulose, 49, had been suspended following a complaint lodged by a female rowing assistant coach in January this year,” SAI sources told TOI.“After receiving the complaint, SAI launched a departmental investigation against Paulose, which is currently ongoing,” the source added.“He was shifted to SAI’s Imphal center earlier this month to ensure that he does not intimidate the victims or influence the investigation in any way,” sources said, adding, “Appropriate action will be taken based on the findings.”Details of the charges have not been disclosed. TOI tried to contact Paulos but he was unavailable for comment.While concerns are growing over the welfare of athletes at the SAI centre, the incident is reminiscent of an incident at the SAI Alappuzha center in 2015, when four female rowers tried to commit suicide by consuming a poisonous fruit called Othalanga (cerbera odollam) after they were allegedly physically and mentally harassed by senior athletes. In that incident, a 15-year-old died, while others survived. The athletes were reportedly forced to do household chores for seniors, and whenever they resisted, the harassment increased.In another incident in January, two female students, aged 18 and 15, were found hanging inside the SAI hostel in Kollam. Police said preliminary findings indicated a suspected suicide. A note seeking forgiveness from his parents has been found, but further details have not been released.According to information provided to parliament, the SAI has received 33 sexual harassment complaints over the past 10 years, 25 of which were against coaches and eight against administrative staff.kerala case