New Delhi: The National Anti-Doping Agency imposed a four-year suspension on Bajrang Punia for not submitting his sample for a doping test on March 10, during the national team selection trials.
Initially, NADA suspended the Tokyo Games bronze medalist wrestler on April 23, which was followed by a suspension from the World Governing body UWW.
Bajrang appealed against the provisional suspension, leading to its revocation by NADA’s Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP) on May 31, pending the issuance of a charge notice.
Subsequently, NADA served the notice to Bajrang on June 23.
Bajrang, who had joined the Congress with fellow wrestler Vinesh Phogat and took charge of the All India Kisan Congress, contested the charge on July 11 through a written submission, after which hearings took place on September 20 and October 4.
The ADDP ruled that the athlete is subject to sanctions under Article 10.3.1 and is ineligible for four years.
This suspension bars Bajrang from returning to competitive wrestling or seeking a coaching position abroad, should he wish to.
The panel determined that the four-year ineligibility period would begin from the date the notification was issued, i.e., April 23, 2024.
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