NEW DELHI, May 9 — The Wrestling Federation of India has declared Vinesh Phogat ineligible for domestic competition until June 26, effectively barring her from the upcoming National Open Ranking Tournament in Gonda. In a comprehensive 15-page show-cause notice issued Saturday, the governing body accused the wrestler of indiscipline and violating specific anti-doping regulations.
The federation stated that Phogat failed to adhere to the mandatory six-month notice period required for athletes returning from retirement, a stipulation under United World Wrestling rules. Beyond the administrative oversight, the notice alleged that the athlete’s conduct has caused national embarrassment and negatively impacted the reputation of Indian wrestling.
The federation must satisfy itself that no anti-doping rule violations have occurred that would render a wrestler ineligible for representation, the WFI stated in the official document. The charges brought against Phogat include her disqualification from the 2024 Paris Olympics for failing to make weight and alleged whereabouts failures. Additionally, the WFI maintained that her participation in two different weight categories during the March 2024 trials was a violation of constitutional provisions.
Phogat, who intended for the Gonda event to serve as her competitive comeback, has been granted 14 days to provide a formal explanation. The federation affirmed that the suspension remains in place while the inquiry into these four broad charges continues.
