LAHORE: International wrestler Tayyab Raza Awan has submitted a formal petition to senior sports authorities, including the Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination, Pakistan Sports Board, Pakistan Wrestling Federation (PWF) and the Pakistan Olympic Association, against abolition of the 125 kg weight category, alleging unfair selection practices and personal bias by the PWF General Secretary.
In the petition, Awan recounts a long record of national and international success—multiple national gold medals, a Commonwealth Games bronze in the 125 kg class, a South Asian Games silver and a World University Games bronze—and says he has been preparing specifically for the Asian Games. He states that the sudden removal of the 125 kg division from the current selection trials, communicated to units with only one week’s notice, forced him into an emergency weight cut that caused severe dehydration and an allergic reaction. Medical photographs and reports are cited as supporting evidence.
Awan accuses PWF General Secretary Muhammad Inam Butt of conflict of interest and favoritism, alleging that Butt’s role as a club operator has influenced which weight categories are included in trials and that his club’s athletes are being advantaged. The petition claims Butt has displayed hostile behaviour toward Awan at events and has attempted to influence match tactics from the sidelines; the wrestler says he possesses documentary evidence to substantiate these allegations. The petition sets out five specific demands: immediate restoration of the 125 kg weight category or an equitable selection pathway for affected athletes; an independent and transparent inquiry into the conduct of the PWF General Secretary; guarantees of merit based selection with published timelines and appeals mechanisms; medical consideration for athletes harmed by abrupt category changes; and a requirement that any future alterations to categories or schedules be communicated at least 30 days in advance.
Awan asks that the inquiry panel include representatives from the Pakistan Olympic Association, Pakistan Sports Board and an independent sports integrity expert. He also offers to submit competition records, medical documentation and correspondence related to the trials to assist the review.
The petition has been copied to the offices of the Secretary, Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination; the Director General, Pakistan Sports Board; the President and Secretary General of the Pakistan Olympic Association; and the President of the Pakistan Wrestling Federation. Awan has requested urgent intervention to ensure a fair selection process and to protect athlete welfare ahead of the Asian Games selection cycle.
PWF officials and the General Secretary have not yet issued a public response to the petition. The federation is expected to comment after reviewing the allegations and the evidence submitted.
