New Delhi: Olympic medallist wrestler Bajrang Punia got suspended for four years on Tuesday after he refused to hand over his urine sample for dope test during selection trials on March 10.
The National Anti-Doping Agency has provisionally barred the Tokyo Games bronze medallist wrestler on April 23 after which United world wrestling, the global governing body, suspended him too.
Punia had lodged an appeal against that decision leading to revocation of that decision by NADA’s anti-disciplinary doping panel on May 31. NADA was told to issue notice of charge first before taking any punitive action against Punia, who received it on June 23.
Punia had contested the charge through a written submission on July 11 that led to hearings on September 20 and October 4.
“The Panel holds that the Athlete is liable for sanctions under Article 10.3.1 and liable for ineligibility for a period of 4 years,” the ADDP said in its order, as quoted by PTI.
“In the present case, since the Athlete had been provisionally suspended, the Panel accordingly holds that the Athlete’s period of his ineligibility for the period of 4 years shall commence from the date on which the notification was sent, i.e., 23.04.2024.
“Needless to say that on account of the lifting of the provisional suspension for the period from 31.05.2024 to 21.06.2024 shall not be credited into the total period of ineligibility of four years.”
NADA said that due process was maintained when asking for his urine sample for dope analysis purposes.
“The outright refusal by the athlete to provide urine sample for the dope test was intentional and deliberate. Athlete has demonstrated utter disregard towards his duties and responsibilities as per Articles 20.1 & 20.2 of the Anti Doping Rules, 2021,” NADA said.
Entry into politics
Bajrang won’t be able to take part competitively or coach abroad now and has already joined Congress to take charge of All India Kisan Congress.
The 30-year-old has always insisted that he hasn’t refused to hand over the sample but wanted to know NADA’s response to his mail after seeking an answer over expired kits being given to him in December 2023.
Bajrang, along with Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik, were one of the leading protesters against Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
He has been vocal about feeling unfairly treated in the doping case and alleged prejudice against him for going against Brij Bhushan, who is under trial for alleged sexual misconduct against female wrestlers.
The National Anti-Doping Agency barred Tokyo Games bronze medallist Bajrang Punia from wrestling for four years for failing to comply with anti-doping norms Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
