NEW DELHI New Delhi: Tokyo Olympic Games bronze medalist wrestler Bajrang Punia has been suspended for four years for refusing to provide a urine sample for anti-doping test during the national team trials in March 2024. According to reports, Punia was earlier given a provisional suspension and after a hearing, the ban was confirmed as per Article 10.3.1 of NADA's anti-doping rules, which deals with deliberate evasion of dope testing, which is Considered an anti-doping rule violation. Punia had challenged his provisional suspension, which was imposed on April 23, 2024, with NADA's Anti-Disciplinary Doping Panel (ADDP) and it was revoked in May 2024 pending formal communication of the charge. NADA finally gave a formal notice on June 23, 2024. Following Punia's written arguments and hearings held on September 20 and October 4, the ADDP ruled in favor of NADA and ordered imposition of a four-year ineligibility period starting from April 23, 2024.
The sport's world governing body United World Wrestling (UWW) had also suspended Bajrang in April, following which the Indian wrestler will not only be unable to participate in competitions but will also not be able to take up coaching roles till the end of the suspension period. “Needless to say that the removal of provisional suspension for the period from 31.05.2024 to 21.06.2024 will not be included in the total period of ineligibility of four years,” the ADDP clarified.
In the hearing before the ADDP, Punia argued that his refusal to give the sample for testing was not deliberate, but due to distrust and distrust in NADA's procedures. He also claimed that the sample collector was using expired kits and cited previous instances in which expired testing kits were allegedly provided. He claimed that his objection was to NADA using “expired kits” and not to providing samples.
Punia also claimed that his dispute with the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and his involvement in protests against its former president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh worsened the situation. On its part, NADA said that the athlete's actions were deliberate. Were done. “The athlete's blatant refusal to provide a urine sample for dope testing was deliberate and deliberate” and demonstrates a disregard for anti-doping responsibilities outlined in Articles 20.1 and 20.2 of the 2021 Rules.
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