Obscene messages asking female athletes to masturbate pop up in Bengaluru stadium's washroom

Female athletes training at Bengaluru's Sree Kanteerava Stadium were in for a shock on Saturday as they found obscene messages signed by the 'sports authority' in the washroom.

"This is to inform you that, please do masturbating before practice," began the note. "Please do fingering," read another part of the message, the News Minute reported.

According to the Times of India, some of the younger athletes were seen asking others to refrain from using the restroom on Monday saying that there was something 'bad.'

"I went there out of curiosity and was shocked to see the message, signed by sports authority. It is so disturbing and humiliating that somebody could enter the ladies' restroom and spend time pasting those messages without being noticed," a senior athlete, who has been training at the stadium for nearly a decade, was quoted as saying by the Times of India.

The obscene messages have also raised security concerns. The fact that Karnataka's Department of Youth Services and Sports (DYES) has made it mandatory for identity cards for athletes and coaches to enter the stadium gives authorities reason to speculate that it is an inside job. However, reports also suggest that the move is not strictly implemented and people continue to enter the stadium without valid entry permits.

"The thought of using those restrooms is scary. If somebody could paste the messages without being noticed, then what is the guarantee that people won't try to install spy cameras? There were no such messages in the men's restroom which means that female athletes are being targeted. This amounts to sexual harassment and I hope the authorities take it seriously," another national athlete said.

A probe has been ordered, and DYES has assured that they will enhance security in the stadium. But athletes and coaches feel that this incident will discourage parents from allowing their children to take up sports.