Vinesh Phogat is the most high-profile wrestler to accuse Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment ©Getty Images

Athletes who have accused Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment have decided not to attend a panel meeting with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) panel, and have been given one more chance to provide evidence.

The panel has scheduled a second meeting for February 11.

Three-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist Vinesh Phogat has led the accusations against Singh, supported by other major wrestlers in the country, Olympic bronze medallists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik.

This group previously stated they had not been consulted on the creation of the Indian Sports Ministry Oversight Committee to investigate the WFI.

Sports Minister Anurag Thakur appointed Olympic bronze medallist boxer and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) Athletes Commission chair Mary Kom to take charge of the five-person Oversight Committee managing WFI's affairs and investigating allegations of "sexual misconduct, financial irregularities and misgovernance."

Kom had already been appointed to the IOA panel to investigate the accusation.

Mary Kom is leading the IOA panel and the Sports Ministry's Oversight Committee ©Getty Images
Mary Kom is leading the IOA panel and the Sports Ministry's Oversight Committee ©Getty Images

"We were assured that we would be consulted before the Oversight Committee was formed," posted Phogat, Punia and Malik on Twitter.

"It is very sad that we were not even consulted before the formation of this Committee."

On January 21, the Sports Ministry suspended all activities of the WFI until the investigation concluded, requesting Singh step down from his position temporarily.

According to Hindustan Times, the wrestlers sent a letter to the IOA panel, saying that since some of the members of the panel were also part of the Oversight Committee, it did not make sense to appear before both panels.

London 2012 Olympic wrestling bronze medallist Yogeshwar Dutt is on both panels too - a contentious appointment due to his supposed leniency to Singh in media statements.

Bajrang Punia is one of the athletes who claim they will not compete for India until the WFI President has left permanently ©Getty Images
Bajrang Punia is one of the athletes who claim they will not compete for India until the WFI President has left permanently ©Getty Images

Punia said they had no issue with the IOA panel.

Alaknanda Ashok, Sahdev Yadav, Dola Banerjee and advocates Talish Ray and Shlok Chandra are also on the IOA panel.

"The wrestlers have been given one last opportunity to present themselves before the panel on February 11 after which the panel will submit its report to the IOA Executive Committee," said an IOA official, according to Hindustan Times.

News agency IANS has added that more members may be added to the Oversight Committee too.

"The wrestlers met the Sports Minister after the Committee was formed and suggested a few names as well," said a source to IANS.

"They have been promised that more members will be added and justice be served."

Ravi Kumar Dahiya, Punia and Phogat have all been named on the Indian team for the Zagreb Open Grand Prix, but had previously said they would not compete at tournaments until Singh is fired.