NEW DELHI: National Anti-Doping Agency (
Nada
) has provisionally suspended wrestler
Bajrang Punia
, four-time World Championships medallist and Tokyo Olympics bronze winner, for his refusal to give his urine sample to dope control officers during the recent selection trials in Sonepat.
Bajrang is now staring at a two-year ban and his prospects of competing at the upcoming Paris Olympics also look doubtful.
His case will be heard by Nada's anti-doping disciplinary panel (ADDP) where he will be represented by prominent sports lawyer Vidushpat Singhania. Nada has asked
Bajrang
to file his reply by May 7.
In its suspension order, Nada wrote: "With subject to paragraph 4:1:2 below and in accordance with Article 7.4 of the
NADR
2021, you are immediately provisionally suspended from participation in any competition or activity prior to the final decision reached at a hearing in this matter." Nada's communication was sent to Bajrang on April 23.
"If you do not accept the consequences, the case will be resolved without further disciplinary proceedings, subject to the right of appeal. If you disagree, the matter will be referred for adjudication to the anti-doping disciplinary panel (ADDP)," the order further read.
Bajrang had failed to win a spot in the men's freestyle 65kg category at the trials held on March 10 and India were represented by Sujeet Kalkal in the weight division at the qualifiers in Bishkek last month.
So far, no Indian wrestlers has been able to qualify in the men's 65kg division. Kalkal will be representing India at the World Olympic qualifiers -- which will also act as the final qualifying tournament for Paris -- starting on May 9 in Istanbul. If Kalkal is able to win a quota place at the meet, he could potentially face Bajrang at a selection trial later this month. Since, the quota place belongs to the country, the
WFI
will have trials between the winner and other potential challengers to pick the best wrestler for the Games.
If the ADDP doesn't give any relief to Bajrang for his indescretion, he would not only be out of the Paris race but might also get banned for two years.
Bajrang was earlier warned by the Nada for his whereabouts failures and a similar warning for provisional suspension was issued to him by Nada on April 10, 2024. A copy of the communication is with TOI. An athlete is required to inform about his whereabouts on at least three occasions in a year so that he can be tested for dope by Nada officers on the available dates.
Any failure by an athlete to make himself available during those dates tantamount to whereabouts failures and can lead to suspension. In Bajrang's case, according to Nada's letter, no whereabouts was recorded against Bajrang in the last 12 months and it had amounted to ‘missed tests', for which, the wrestler was asked to reply at the earliest.
In his defence, Bajrang put out a statement on X, which read, "I want to clarify that I never refused to give my sample to Nada officials. I requested them to first answer me as to what action they took on the expired kit they brought to take my sample."
When TOI contacted WFI president Sanjay Singh for his response, he expressed his ignorance regarding any communication from Nada and said he got to know about Bajrang's suspension from media outlets. "We never received any such letter or a copy of order from Nada. We were absolutely clueless. We will be seeking answers from the Nada as to why Bajrang's suspension wasn't shared with us. Also, the WFI will write to the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) to make them aware of the matter," he said.
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