The uncertainty surrounding Vinesh Phogat’s appeal against her Olympic disqualification continues, with the ad-hoc division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) extending the deadline for its decision until 16 August. No reasons were provided for the extension, marking the third deferment in the case.
Phogat, 29, was disqualified from the women’s 50kg freestyle wrestling final after being found 100 grams overweight during the weigh-in last Wednesday. In her appeal, Phogat has requested that she be awarded a joint silver medal alongside Cuban wrestler Yusneylis Guzman Lopez, who advanced to the final following Phogat’s disqualification.
A statement from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) confirmed that the CAS ad-hoc division president has granted Dr Annabelle Bennett, the sole arbitrator in the case, an extension until 6:00 pm (Paris time) on Friday, 16 August 2024.
Phogat’s legal team, comprising French lawyers Joelle Monlouis, Estelle Ivanova, Habbine Estelle Kim, and Charles Amson, has been provided by the Paris Bar and is working on the case pro bono. Additionally, senior counsels Harish Salve and Vidushpat Singhania have been enlisted to support her case.
Interestingly, the IOA had initially scheduled an online press conference with its president PT Usha and Harish Salve, and at the same time, the CAS verdict was expected. However, this invite was quickly retracted following the CAS’s decision to extend the deadline.
Phogat, who was participating in her third Olympic Games, announced her retirement from the sport the day after her disqualification, citing a lack of strength to continue. The bronze medallist from the World Championships had reportedly resorted to extreme measures in an attempt to meet the weight requirement, including cutting her hair, abstaining from food and water, and working out throughout tVinesh Phogat’s Appeal Decision Deferred Again, CAS Sets New Deadlinehe night. These efforts left her severely dehydrated, necessitating IV fluids and drawing widespread sympathy.
Support for Phogat has come from various quarters, including fellow athletes like javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, hockey player P R Sreejesh, and cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar, all of whom have advocated for her to be awarded a silver medal.
Dear Reader,
Every day, our team at EastMojo travels through rain, rough roads, and remote hills to bring you stories that matter – stories from your town, your people, your Northeast.
We do this because we believe in truthful, independent journalism. No big corporate backing, no government pressure – just honest reporting by local journalists who live and breathe the same air you do.
But to keep doing this work, we need you. Your small contribution helps us pay our reporters fairly, reach places others ignore, and keep asking the tough questions.
If you believe the Northeast deserves its own fearless voice, stand with us.
Support independent journalism. Be a Member.
Thank you,
Karma Paljor
Editor-in-Chief, eastmojo.com
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach expressed sympathy for Phogat’s situation but emphasised the importance of upholding the rules. “I must say, I have a certain understanding for the wrestler; it’s clearly a human touch,” Bach said. “Now, it’s [the appeal] in CAS. We will, at the end, follow the CAS decision. But, again, the international [wrestling] federation, they have to apply their interpretation, their rules. This is their responsibility.”
United World Wrestling (UWW) President Nenad Lalovic also expressed regret over the situation but was doubtful that the results would change. “I am so sorry for what happened, but no matter the size of your country, athletes are athletes. This weigh-in was public, everyone saw what happened. How can we allow someone to compete when we all saw what happened? We don’t have any other choice but to follow our rules,” Lalovic stated.
Also read | Nagaland: Kohima Bar body exposes illicit nexus between police, advocates