Sakshi Malik, an Olympic medalist, recently announced her intent to leave her sport, while fellow wrestler Vinesh Phogat returned her Khel Ratna and Arjuna awards in frustration over the government’s inaction regarding Brij Bhushan Singh, the former head of the Wrestling Federation of India accused of sexual harassment. This has brought attention to the mental health of athletes and the urgent need to ensure a safe environment in sports.
At all levels, sports mirrors society’s challenges. Parcham, a girls’ football collective in Mumbra, faced lewd comments while playing publicly in 2012. Similarly, stories have emerged of sexual harassment within sports, involving powerful administrators like V Chamundeswaranath and Singh, affecting teams like Andhra’s women’s cricket and renowned wrestlers. Studies reveal a heightened risk of sexual violence for elite athletes, women, gender-nonconforming individuals, and children in sports.
Psychological, sexual, and physical abuse in sports significantly impact athletes’ well-being beyond their performance. It can lead to decreased enjoyment, low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, PTSD, eating disorders, self-harm, and even thoughts of quitting sports. The effects extend to peers, family, and long-term mental health, persisting even after leaving the sport.
Research has shown a concerning link between sexual abuse and suicidal ideation among female elite athletes. For instance, Ranji cricket player Durga Bhawani, who filed a harassment complaint in 2009, tragically died by suicide in 2015. Despite its impact, there’s limited focus on addressing sexual violence’s mental health effects in sports compared to the attention given to sports psychology or workplace mental health.
Creating psychologically safe spaces in sports requires understanding the risk factors within the sports ecosystem. Most incidents involve perpetrators close to the survivors, influencing the sports environment. Shockingly, between 2010 and 2020, 29 out of 45 sexual harassment complaints to the Sports Authority of India were against coaches, some of whom continued working with minor athletes, with minimal penalties.
To foster safer sports environments, addressing power imbalances and heteropatriarchal structures that perpetuate silence and dependency is crucial. The lack of reporting mechanisms, combined with vulnerable athletes, increases the likelihood of abuse. Shockingly, as of May 2023, 15 of India’s 30 national sports federations lacked Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs), including the Wrestling Federation of India, required under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act, 2013.
Many athletes, especially those from marginalized backgrounds, face pressure to remain silent due to sports being their livelihood and family support. The combination of silencing, organizational denial, and powerlessness discourages reporting and perpetuates a culture of abuse within sports systems.
Medical and therapeutic practitioners in sports should play a pivotal role in defining ethical practices and educating stakeholders to uphold human rights within sports systems. Raj Mariwala, director of Mariwala Health Initiative, emphasizes the need for accessible mental health support for marginalized communities within sports.
Users Today : 0
Users Yesterday : 5