KOCHI: The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has suspended Asian Games bronze medalist and India’s first Olympic rower PT Palos, who served as high performance director at the National Center of Excellence in Alappuzha, and shifted him to the Imphal center following allegations of sexual harassment leveled by a female assistant.“The 49-year-old Palouse has been suspended after a woman assistant rowing coach filed a complaint in January this year,” a SAI source told TOI.“On receiving the complaint, the SAI initiated a departmental inquiry against Paulus, which is currently underway,” the source added.“He was shifted to SAI’s Imphal center earlier this month to ensure that he could not intimidate the victim or influence the investigation in any way,” the source added, adding, “Appropriate action will be taken based on the outcome of the inquiry.”Details of the charges have not been disclosed. TOI tried to contact Polos, but he was not available for comment.Even as concerns over the welfare of athletes at SAI centers are mounting, the incident has brought back memories of a 2015 incident at SAI’s Alappuzha centre, where four women riders attempted suicide by consuming a poisonous fruit called othalanga (serbera odolum) after alleged physical and mental harassment by senior athletes. In this case, one 15-year-old died, while the rest survived. These players were allegedly being forced to work for their elders, with harassment escalating whenever they resisted.In a separate incident in January, two female students, aged 18 and 15, were found hanging inside the SAI hostel in Kollam. Police said initial findings point to a suspected suicide. Apology notes have been recovered from his parents, although no further details have been made public.Based on information presented in Parliament, the SAI has registered 33 complaints of sexual harassment in the past 10 years, of which 25 were against coaches and 8 against administrative staff.Kerala Cases
- 2015 (Alappuzha): Four women riders ate poisonous fruit after alleged abuse by elders. A 15-year-old boy died, others survived amid reports of forced labor and harassment.
- January 2026 (Kolam): Two hostel students, aged 18 and 15, are found dead in a suspected suicide. Parent’s notice issued, investigation underway
