November 27, 2024 (Punjab Khabarnama Bureau) -Bajrang Punia, India’s Tokyo Olympics bronze medal-winning wrestler, was suspended by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) for four years for refusing to submit a sample for a doping test on March 10 during the national team selection trials. This decision came after NADA had initially suspended Bajrang Punia on April 23 for the same offence, which led to a subsequent suspension by the World Governing Body, UWW.
This suspension means that he will not be allowed to participate in competitive wrestling nor seek coaching opportunities overseas, should he wish to do so.
Bajrang contested the initial provisional suspension, and on May 31, NADA’s Anti-Disciplinary Doping Panel (ADDP) lifted the suspension temporarily until a formal notice of charges was issued. On June 23, NADA formally notified him of the charges.
In response to this, Bajrang, who had aligned himself with the Congress party alongside fellow wrestler Vinesh Phogat and assumed leadership of the All India Kisan Congress, filed a challenge against the charges on July 11. Following this, hearings took place on September 20 and October 4.
The ADDP concluded that Bajrang was accountable for sanctions under Article 10.3.1, resulting in a four-year ban on his eligibility.
“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 said in its order.
“In the present case, since the Athlete had been provisionally suspended, the Panel accordingly holds that the Athlete’s period of his ineligibility for the period of 4 years shall commence from the date on which the notification was sent, i.e., 23.04.2024.