On Sunday, 5 May news broke out that Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist wrestler Bajrang Punia has been provisionally suspended by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA). This action follows his alleged failure to provide a urine sample during the trials conducted at the Sports Authority of India centre in Sonipat on 10 March.
Following reports of his suspension, the 30-year-old wrestler promptly addressed the situation on social media platform ‘X’ to challenge the claim.
Now, let’s delve into the details of the matter and understand the implications on Punia's qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics:
Why Did NADA Suspend Bajrang Punia?
According to reports, following his defeat in the trials to select the Indian squad for the Asian Olympic Qualifiers in Sonepat, Punia departed the venue without providing his urine sample and did not return for the subsequent third-fourth place playoff.
Subsequently, after 44 days, on 23 April, NADA issued a letter to Bajrang, indicating his provisional suspension due to his alleged refusal to undergo dope testing by not providing his urine sample.
Notably, Punia crashed out after losing to Rohit 9-1 in the semi-finals of the 65kg category in the Sonepat trials.
What Does This Suspension Mean for Bajrang?
As a consequence of this suspension, Bajrang will be barred from participating in any tournaments or trials until the suspension is revoked.
A Wrestling Federation of India official has confirmed that the victor of the Olympic quota will need to defeat the winner of another national trial to secure a spot in Paris.
How Did Bajrang React?
मà¥à¤°à¥ बारॠमà¥à¤ à¤à¥ डà¥à¤ª à¤à¥à¤¸à¥à¤ à¤à¥ लिठà¤à¤¼à¤¬à¤° ठरहॠहॠà¤à¤¸à¤à¥ लियॠमà¥à¤ सà¥à¤ªà¤·à¥à¤ à¤à¤°à¤¨à¤¾ à¤à¤¾à¤¹à¤¤à¤¾ हà¥à¤ !!! मà¥à¤à¤¨à¥ à¤à¤à¥ à¤à¥ नाडा ठधिà¤à¤¾à¤°à¤¿à¤¯à¥à¤ à¤à¥ sample दà¥à¤¨à¥ सॠà¤à¤¨à¤à¤¾à¤° नहà¥à¤ à¤à¤¿à¤¯à¤¾, मà¥à¤à¤¨à¥ à¤à¤¨à¤¸à¥ ठनà¥à¤°à¥à¤§ à¤à¤¿à¤¯à¤¾ à¤à¤¿ वॠमà¥à¤à¥ à¤à¤µà¤¾à¤¬ दà¥à¤ à¤à¤¿ à¤à¤¨à¥à¤¹à¥à¤à¤¨à¥ पहलॠमà¥à¤°à¤¾ sample लà¥à¤¨à¥ à¤à¥ लिठà¤à¥ à¤à¤à¥à¤¸à¤ªà¤¾à¤¯à¤°à¥ à¤à¤¿à¤ लाठथà¥, à¤à¤¸ पर à¤à¤¨à¥à¤¹à¥à¤à¤¨à¥ à¤à¥à¤¯à¤¾â¦ pic.twitter.com/aU676ADyy3
— Bajrang Punia ð®ð³ (@BajrangPunia) May 5, 2024Bajrang Punia
Vidushpat Singhania, Bajrang Punia’s lawyer
What Did The WFI Say?
According to a senior official from the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), the letter from NADA was not directed to the national body but was instead sent to the now defunct ad hoc committee responsible for overseeing the selection trials in March.
What Happens Next?
According to the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) Code, ‘Refusing, or failing without compelling justification, to submit to sample collection after notification as authorised in applicable anti-doping rules or otherwise evading sample collection is an anti-doping rule violation.’
NADA has given Punia the opportunity to request a Provisional Hearing promptly after the imposition of his suspension. Additionally, the wrestler has been granted the chance to provide an explanation before 7 May.
"Decisions in relation to Provisional Suspension may be appealed in accordance with article 13.2 or the NADR 2021. In addition to the rights mentioned above, you have the opportunity to provide an explanation to NADA India by 07/5/2024," the statement read.
If Punia fails to overturn the NADA suspension, it is possible that his case will proceed to a disciplinary panel after the 7 May submissions. This process could potentially extend over several weeks, leaving Punia's wrestling career in a state of uncertainty.
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