Anti-Doping Panel revokes provisional ban on Bajrang Punia as no formal charges have been filed | Sports-Other News

A three-member panel said in its written order: “This Hearing Panel is of the opinion that at this time, since the Athlete has yet to be served with a Notice of Charge, and without addressing the merits of the Athlete’s submissions/explanations/reasonings for refusing to provide a Sample and the counter-submissions of counsel appearing for NADA, the Athlete’s Provisional Suspension is lifted pending the decision of NADA to issue a Notice of Charge formally charging the Athlete with a violation of the 2021 Anti-Doping Rules.”

It added that if NADA decides to frame charges against Bajrang, “the matter would be immediately referred to the Hearing Committee for final hearing.”

The country’s anti-doping regulator had provisionally suspended Bajrang earlier this year, alleging that he had refused to provide a urine sample for a doping test during the team selection process in March.

Bajrang, represented by lawyer Vidushpat Singhania, had a two-pronged defence. First, he relied on a case from December last year when a doping control officer visited him with expired test kits to collect samples.

In a clip posted on social media by Olympic medalist Bajrang Punia, he claimed that the doping kits had expired. (Screenshots by Bajrang Punia X)

Bajrang further told the panel that “he was targeted because of his active participation in the co-wrestlers’ agitation against their harassment” and that, therefore, he was “justified in refusing to provide a sample for a doping test as he expected wrong conclusions to be drawn”.

Singhania, on behalf of the wrestler, also argued that the denial was not deliberate as the DCO asked him for a rehearsal when the bronze medal bout was still pending. “He contended that… the athlete should have been approached after his bronze medal bout was over but the DCO/attendant simply left without waiting for the final bout to be over,” the order said, citing Bajrang’s defence.

NADA’s lawyers claimed that Bajrang did not participate in the bronze medal match and therefore his statement was “baseless”. They added that his name was on the list of athletes who were to be tested that day.

However, the panel found that it was “premature to address the pros and cons of both parties’ submissions” because NADA had not formally charged Bajrang with a possible violation.

Even though his provisional ban has been lifted for now, Bajrang will still not take part in next month’s Olympic Games in Paris as no Indian wrestler has managed to fulfil a quota in the 65 kg weight category in which he competes.