New Delhi: The National Anti-Doping Agency suspended ace wrestler Bajrang Punia for the second time on Sunday, weeks after its anti-disciplinary doping committee has given him a clean chit.
NADA had first suspended him on April 23 for refusing to provide his urine sample for a dope test during the Olympic selection trials that was held in Sonepat on March 10.
It led to the Tokyo Games bronze medallist getting suspended United Wrestling World (UWW), the sport’s world governing body.
Punia had lodged an appeal against the provisional ban leading to NADA’s anti-disciplinary doping panel revoking the order on May 31 until he was served the ‘notice of charge’.
On Sunday, NADA served the notice to Punia and provisionally suspended him again.
“This serves as a formal notice that you are being charged with the violation of Article 2.3 of the National Anti-Doping Rules, 2021 and now you are provisionally suspended,” NADA said through its communication to the wrestler.
Punia has been given time till July 11 to either request for a hearing or accept the charge brought against him. He has maintained all along that he never refused to give his urine sample but had demaded NADA’s response to his query of why expired kits were sent to collect his samples in December 2023.
Punia’s lawyer Vidhushpat Singhania said his client would challenge the suspension. “Yes, we will have to file a reply,” Singhania told PTI.
NADA said that if Punia’s violation is upheld, it will then seek “disqualification of results in the event during which the ADRV occurred, commission of the ADRV with all resulting consequences including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes.”
“Chaperone/DCO had duly approached you and informed you that you were required to provide a urine sample for dope analysis purposes.
“Even after several requests made by the DCO, you had refused to provide your urine sample on the ground that you would not provide the sample unless NADA replies to your email regarding the issue of expired kits, which were used by the concerned DCO who had come to collect the sample of the athlete for the dope test about two months ago.
“Following your refusal to submit to sample collection, the DCO of NADA had also explained to you in detail, about its consequences and outcomes under the NADR, 2021.
“Despite all the efforts made by the DCO, you had refused to submit for the sample collection.”
NADA could also opt to recover the financial costs associated with the tests or impose a fine to Punia if he loses after appealing.
NADA had first suspended him on April 23 for refusing to provide his urine sample for a dope test during the Olympic selection trials that was held in Sonepat on March 10. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
