Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat. File
| Photo Credit: AP
Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat will not be awarded a silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, after the ad hoc division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) dismissed her appeal for a joint silver medal on Wednesday.
“The application filed by Vinesh Phogat on 7 August 2024 is dismissed,” said a CAS statement signed by the Sole Arbitrator Annabelle Bennett.
After reaching the women’s 50kg final of her competition on August 7, Vinesh was disqualified for being a little over 100g overweight during the weigh-in.
Vinesh weighed 49.90kg on the morning ahead of her first-round bout, well within the permissible limit.
She, however, gained weight during the day as she secured three back-to-back wins, including one over defending Olympic champion Yui Susaki, to reach the quarterfinals.
Vinesh had appealed to be reinstated for the gold medal bout at first against USA’s Sarah Hildebrandt, before altering the appeal and requesting a joint silver medal to be awarded to her.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president P.T. Usha expressed her shock and disappointment at the decision of the Sole Arbitrator.
“The marginal discrepancy of a 100 grams and the resultant consequences has profound impact, not only in terms of Vinesh’s career but also raises serious questions about ambiguous rules and their interpretation,” the IOA said in a statement.
“The IOA firmly believes that the total disqualification of an athlete for such a weight infraction on the second of two days warrants a deeper examination. Our legal representatives had duly brought this out in their submissions before the Sole Arbitrator.”
‘Inhumane regulations’
The IOA further said that the entire saga highlighted the ‘stringent and, arguably, inhumane regulations that fail to account for the physiological and psychological stresses athletes, particularly female athletes, undergo’, hinting at the need for more ‘equitable and reasonable standards that prioritise athletes’ well-being.’
“In light of the order of the CAS, the IOA continues to stand in full support of Ms. Phogat and is exploring further legal options.
“The IOA is committed to ensuring that Vinesh’s case is heard.
“It will continue to advocate justice and fairness in sports, ensuring that the rights and dignity of athletes and everyone in the sports fold are upheld at all times,” the IOA added.