The Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) has extended the deadline for a decision on Vinesh Phogat's appeal until August 13 at 9:30 PM IST. This extension, announced late on August 10, comes as a significant delay from the originally anticipated ruling time. The delay is crucial as it determines whether Vinesh will be awarded the silver medal in the women’s 50kg wrestling category at the Paris Olympics.
The decision was expected to be made by August 10, but the CAS has now given itself an additional 72 hours to deliver its ruling. This extension is particularly noteworthy as the Olympics are scheduled to conclude on August 11. The CAS has also granted both parties until August 11 to submit any further evidence.
Typically, ad-hoc panels are given 24 hours to reach a verdict, but this case has received an extended timeline. The recent hearing, which took place on August 9 in Paris, involved a three-hour session where Vinesh Phogat presented her appeal virtually. Her appeal challenges her disqualification from the Olympics, which occurred after she was found to be 100 grams over the weight limit during the weigh-in for her gold medal match on August 7.
During the hearing, Vinesh was represented by prominent senior counsels Harish Salve and Vidushpat Singhania, who argued that her disqualification was not due to any intentional misconduct but rather due to a minor weight discrepancy. The proceedings were overseen by Dr. Annabelle Bennett of Australia, serving as the Sole Arbitrator.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has expressed optimism about a favorable outcome and acknowledged the efforts of the legal team representing Vinesh. As the situation stands, the extension from the CAS indicates that the ruling will come after the Olympics' official closing, adding a layer of uncertainty to Vinesh’s standing in the competition.
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