At the Paris Olympics 2024, Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat is contesting her disqualification in the women's 50kg wrestling category, with a plea for a joint-silver medal. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has registered her request, and the case is now set for a hearing where her legal team will argue against the disqualification.
Vinesh Phogat's disqualification stemmed from her being 100 grams overweight on the day of the final. Despite her efforts to meet the weight requirement, including drastic measures such as cutting her hair and adjusting her clothing, she remained slightly above the 50kg limit. Her weight gain occurred after the opening day of bouts, with the wrestler struggling to reduce her weight to the official limit before the final weigh-in. The medical team, led by Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala, was unable to bring her weight down sufficiently despite their efforts.
Vinesh's legal team, including senior counsels Harish Salve and Vidushpat Singhania, has been brought in to argue her case. They will contend that Vinesh did not engage in any fraudulent activities and that the weight gain was a natural part of her body's recovery process. They argue that athletes have a fundamental right to replenish their bodies with necessary nutrients during recovery and that this weight gain does not equate to fraud. The lawyers will emphasize that Vinesh's body weight was within the prescribed limit on the first day of competition and that any weight gain thereafter was a result of natural recovery, not a deliberate attempt to breach regulations.
Dr. Annabelle Bennett from Australia has been appointed as the Sole Arbitrator for this case. The CAS has stated that a decision is expected before the end of the Olympic Games.
Vinesh Phogat had initially sought to overturn her disqualification and request a new weigh-in to compete in the women's 50kg final, which took place on August 7. However, due to the limited time available, the CAS could not address her appeal in time, and the final was contested between Sarah Hilderbrandt and Yusnelys Guzman, with Guzman having lost to Vinesh in the semi-final.
In support of Vinesh's plea for a joint-silver medal, legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has voiced his backing on social media, highlighting that Vinesh’s significant efforts to reach the final should not go unrecognized.
Â
