Indian Wrestler Bajrang Punia Suspended For Four Years for Doping Violation

Due to his failure to submit his sample for a dope test on March 10 at the national team's selection trials, Bajrang Punia was suspended by the National Anti-Doping Agency for four years on Tuesday. On April 23, NADA banned the bronze medallist wrestler from the Tokyo Games for the offense. The World Governing Organization, UWW, then suspended him as well. After Bajrang filed an appeal against the temporary suspension, the Anti-Disciplinary Doping Panel (ADDP) of NADA annulled it on May 31 till the notice of charge was issued.

NADA then issued the wrestler a notice on June 23. Hearings were held on September 20 and October 4 after Bajrang, who joined the Congress alongside fellow wrestler Vinesh Phogat and was assigned to lead the All India Kisan Congress, contested the accusation in a written submission on July 11.

"The Panel holds that the Athlete is liable for sanctions under Article 10.3.1 and liable for ineligibility for a period of 4 years," the ADDP stated in its ruling.

"Needless to say on account of the lifting of the provisional suspension from 31.05.2024 to 21.06.2024 shall not be credited into the total period of ineligibility of four years." Due to his participation in the demonstration against previous WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, Bajrang has consistently asserted that he was subjected to very discriminatory and unjust treatment concerning doping monitoring.

According to Bajrang's written submission, the athlete's mistrust of NADA was stoked by the organization's actions in two previous cases. In particular, the athlete felt compelled to take a stand as a senior athlete with a voice in the sporting community because NADA had not taken responsibility for their actions regarding their dispersal of duties and had not acknowledged or even responded to their callous approach towards the doping control process in both cases.

Bajrang said, "It wasn't quite a flat rejection. The athlete was always happy to provide his sample as long as he first heard back from NADA regarding the usage of kits that had expired. However, "the outright refusal by the athlete to provide urine sample for the dope test was intentional and deliberate" as well as that "Athlete has demonstrated utter disregard towards his duties and responsibilities as per Articles 20.1 & 20.2 of the Anti Doping Rules, 2021."