Vinesh's Wrestling Career Under Clouds

By Mahima Katal

The Delhi High Court on Monday declined to grant immediate relief to wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who had approached the court seeking permission to participate in the May 30–31 selection trials for this year’s Asian Games after being declared “ineligible” by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav observed that such relief could not be granted “without hearing the other side,” while also noting that a balance must be maintained between the competing interests of the athlete and national sporting concerns.

The court, however, allowed Phogat to file a comprehensive reply to the show cause notice issued against her by the WFI over allegations of indiscipline and violations of anti-doping regulations. The judge further directed the federation to take the proceedings arising from the notice “to its logical conclusion” by July 6 and place its decision on record before the court.

During the hearing, senior counsel appearing for Phogat argued that the wrestler should be permitted to participate in the Asian Games trials, emphasising that international sporting norms generally protect the ranking and competitive status of female athletes who take maternity leave. It was argued that the WFI’s latest policy unfairly excluded her despite these considerations.

Justice Kaurav, however, remarked that since Phogat had already been declared ineligible, the court could not intervene immediately without first examining the federation’s policy and hearing the respondents. The court subsequently issued notices to both the WFI and the Centre, granting them two weeks to file their replies to the petition.

Phogat’s counsel further contended that there was “something more than what meets the eye” in the matter, pointing out that a show cause notice had been issued to the wrestler on May 9, just a day before she was barred from participating in a competition held in Gonda on May 10 and 11.

The counsel questioned why issues relating to the Paris Olympics 2024 were being raised in the notice and sought permission for the wrestler to place a detailed response on record. Accepting the request, the court granted liberty to Phogat to file a comprehensive reply and listed the matter for further hearing on July 6.

The Wrestling Federation of India had earlier declared Phogat ineligible to participate in domestic events until June 26, 2026, citing the mandatory six-month notice period applicable to athletes returning from retirement under anti-doping rules. Despite the restriction, the wrestler had appeared at the National Open Ranking Tournament in Gonda.

Phogat, who was among the prominent wrestlers leading the 2023 protest against former WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singhover allegations of sexual harassment, had also faced a major setback at the 2024 Summer Olympics when she was disqualified from the women’s 50kg wrestling final after being found 100 grams overweight during the morning weigh-in.