Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist wrestler Bajrang Punia has been recently suspended by the National Anti-Doping Agency for four years. He has been suspended after he failed to provide a urine sample for a doping test on March 10 during the national team selection trials. He did not provide the urine samples as he had concerns about the testing process.
Punia’s Issues with NADA
He claimed that the sample collector was using an expired kit for the test and cited several instances where expired kits were provided previously. Punia completely refused to provide the sample and sought clarification from NADA for using expired kits, which led to trust issues in the National Anti-Doping Agency’s (NADA) testing procedures.
Meanwhile, the wrestler’s suspension has not only closed the doors for him to participate in the sport but also halted him from pursuing coaching overseas.
Suspension from Wrestling
Notably, Punia was initially suspended on April 23 by NADA. Later, his suspension was also mirrored from the World Wrestling Federation (UWW). On May 31, 2024, NADA (National Anti-Doping Agency) temporarily revoked his suspension until further notice after he contested his suspension. He made the appeal to NADA’s Anti Disciplinary Doping Panel (ADDP), which decided whether to formally charge him from wrestling. His suspension was then put on hold.
On June 23, 2024, NADA issued a formal notice of charging Punia, accusing him of refusing to provide his urine sample for a doping test previously. This refusal was considered a violation of anti-doping rules, leading to his four-year suspension.
However, NADA has earlier clarified that his suspension period would begin from April 23, when the official notification was officially sent. This suspension would not count the period between May 31 and June 21, 2024, when the provisional suspension was lifted, in the four years of ineligibility.
“In the present case, since the athlete had been provisionally suspended, the panel accordingly holds that the athlete’s period of ineligibility for the period of 4 years shall commence from the date on which the notification was sent, i.e., 23.04.2024,” ADDP said in a notice.
“Needless to say, on account of the lifting of the provisional suspension for the period from 31.05.2024 to 21.06.2024, it shall not be credited into the total period of ineligibility of four years,” the notice further reads.
What’s Recent in the Case?
In response, Punia filed a challenge against the charges on July 11 and attended the hearings in the case on September 20, 2024, and October 4, 2024.
Additionally, Punia joined the Congress party earlier this year with his fellow wrestler Vinesh Phogat, ahead of the state assembly elections in 2024. They have been leading All India Kisan Congress, emphasizing issues such as women’s rights and farmers. Wrestler Bajrang has also been vocal about his suspension from the sport as politically directed due to his involvement in protests against former Wrestling Federation of India President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
He has also stated that he never refused to provide a sample but continuously sought clarification from NADA regarding the motive behind using the expired kits for testing samples during his sample collection in December 2023.
While NADA was taking defensive action, it said, “The athlete has demonstrated utter disregard towards his duties and responsibilities. As per articles 20.1 and 20.2 of the Anti-Doping Rules 2021.”
About Bajrang Punia
Born on February 26, 1994, in Khudan, Haryana, Punia has achieved a significant milestone in wrestling. He secured a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the 65 kg category. Punia is the only Indian wrestler to capture four medals in the World Wrestling Championship. He achieved a bronze medal in the 2013 WWC held in Budapest, a silver in 2018 in Budapest, a bronze in 2019 in Nur Sultan, and a bronze in 2022 in Belgrade.
Kanishka Malhotra is a seasoned journalist with a deep passion for reporting and uncovering the truth. With a specialization in research and investigative Journalism, she has covered wide range of topics related to social issues, travel, lifestyle, technology, Entertainment and much more. She believes to express and share her creativity to the world through words. With relentless pursuit of knowing and uncovering the truth, Kanishka continues to leave a mark in the world of journalism.
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