Anti-Doping Panel
Bajrang Punia was provisionally suspended by the National Anti-Doping Agency after refusing a doping test during selection trials held in March. However, this provisional suspension has now been lifted.
Punia would have been disqualified from Olympic qualifying competition had his suspension continued; now, however, he can prepare for Paris Olympic. Punia’s legal counsel defended his actions by noting that Punia never refused to provide a sample when asked for.Anti-Doping Panel
Anti-Doping Panel Suspended by UWW
Wrestling’s world governing body UWW has issued a suspension against Bajrang Punia for failing to submit to a dope test, impacting his chances at the Paris Olympic Games as the WADA code requires compliance from signatory governing bodies. Punia remains banned until UWW’s hearing into this matter has concluded.
UWW stated in their statement that Bajrang Punia refused to submit samples during selection trials for Olympic qualifiers in Sonepat. Punia claimed he wasn’t informed about what samples would be collected from him beforehand, yet didn’t provide a reason why. Punia simply sought answers from NADA officials regarding why his refusal occurred.
Bajrang Punia posted on his twitter account that today marks an “incredibly sad day for Indian wrestling”, and requested the Sports Ministry to restart wrestling activities as Paris Olympics 2024 are just seven months away. Additionally, he asked authorities to remove UP wrestler Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh from his position.Anti-Doping Panel
Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia — three protesting wrestlers — have informed the government of their intent to continue protesting the decision that allows Brij Bhushan’s family to run Wfi. Instead they want an independent election process which does not permit members of Bhushan’s family from taking up key positions within wrestling.Anti-Doping Panel
Anti-Doping Panel Suspended by NADA
NADA officials have lifted wrestler Bajrang Punia’s provisional suspension. Punia won bronze at Tokyo Games and was originally suspended for allegedly evading sample collection at selection trials for Asian Olympic Qualifiers in Kyrgyzstan; leaving without providing samples after losing one bout and failing to participate in a 3rd-4th place match.
Through his lawyers, Bajrang appealed against his provisional suspension. He maintained that he did not decline providing a sample but instead requested an explanation from NADA about their failure to respond to his earlier complaint about receiving an expired sample kit back in December of last year.
Bajrang claimed that NADA officials who visited him on March 10 were targeting him because of his participation in co-wrestler protest against WFI boss Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and related harassment. While no decision was reached by the NADA panel regarding whether Punia should receive a Notice of Charge from them, should such be issued, they will expeditiously schedule the matter for final hearing.
Bajrang’s failure to submit for sample collection amounts to an anti-doping rule violation under Article 2.3 of the World Anti-Doping Code and could result in him not qualifying for Paris Olympics unless cleared from this charge. Sujeet Kalkal will represent India at Olympic qualifiers held this week in Kyrgyzstan.
Anti-Doping Panel Suspended by WFI
United World Wrestling has suspended Bajrang Punia until 2024 for refusing to submit his urine sample during selection trials for Olympic qualifiers in March. A video posted by Bajrang on social media revealed expired kits used to collect his samples; he asked why authorities did not notice their expiry dates, accusing former WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of using these expired kits to intimidate female wrestlers and cause chaos during trials.
Bajrang, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat had led a protest against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. They have requested the central government take steps to resume wrestling activities as soon as possible and arrest Brij. Additionally, they stated they will return their Padma Shri awards.
Wrestlers met with Sports Minister Anurag Thakur on May 26 and presented their demands, with Anurag assuring them that Delhi police would issue its charge sheet against Singh by June 15. Additionally, wrestlers have asked that elections for WFI take place shortly as well as an internal complaints committee being set up and have proposed two names of coaches as members of an ad-hoc committee to help run daily operations more smoothly.Anti-Doping Panel
Anti-Doping Panel Suspended by IWF
The World Anti-Doping Agency is an international, non-governmental organization which promotes and monitors efforts against doping in sport. Their mission is to safeguard athletes from doping risks while persuading governments to ratify UNESCO International Convention Against Doping in Sport; additionally they aim to foster scientific research, education and capacity building for combatting doping in sports.Anti-Doping Panel
Bajrang Punia, who led athlete protests against Wrestling Federation of India Chief last year, was recently suspended by IWF after failing to provide a urine sample during national trials for Asian Olympic qualifiers held in Sonepat last March. Punia claimed that Dope Control Officer had brought expired kits when collecting samples; and that given such conditions he refused to submit one himself.
IWF has suspended Punia until he receives notice from the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), meaning he won’t be competing in Paris and may call an end to his wrestling career altogether. But Vidushpat Singhania claims his client can return once NADA completes their hearing process – adding that they will then decide either exonerating him or banning him after listening to their arguments and those from Punia himself and NADA respectively.
