UFV wrestlers' suspensions related to party: sources

The incident that prompted the suspensions of four male University of the Fraser Valley wrestlers from competing with their top-ranked team happened at a party at a Calgary tournament that got out of hand, sources tell CTV News.

Whatever happened at that party is the target of a misconduct investigation at UFV that resulted in four Cascades wrestlers being unable to compete at a national tournament last weekend – and has also attracted the attention of Abbotsford police.

“It is the university’s practice to work with the authorities whenever there is a criminal investigation initiated,” UFV spokesman Dave Pinton said in an e-mailed statement.

The University of the Fraser Valley suspended four male members of its team before the CIS Wrestling Championships last weekend in Edmonton.

Gold medal favourite Chanmit Phulka was expected to compete, but was a no-show at the tournament.

A conversation on social media seen by CTV News referenced allegations of harassment against female wrestlers, but UFV has not confirmed this.

A University of Calgary spokesman said that U of C is not pursuing the matter because no U of C students were involved and the incident happened off campus.

Abbotsford police said they have spoken to three people who approached them with concerns, but without first-person evidence they can’t be sure a crime has even occurred.

CTV News is not identifying the sources involved because they are not authorized to speak about the incident.