Bajrang Punia suspended by NADA, wrestler given until July 11 to comment

New Delhi (India): The National Anti-Doping Agency has suspended Olympic medalist and wrestler Bajrang Punia for violating anti-doping rules.

The wrestler’s lawyer, Vidushpat Singhania, also confirmed his suspension on Sunday.

According to NADA, the wrestler had refused to provide his urine sample to the governing body because he objected to NADA’s use of allegedly “expired test kits” and wanted a response from the governing body on the matter. Although the doping control officer had warned him of the consequences of not providing his urine sample, Bajrang did not do the necessary, NADA added.

“The Supervisor/DCO duly contacted you and informed you that you have to provide a urine sample for doping analysis. Even after several requests from the DCO, you refused to provide your urine sample on the grounds that you would not provide the sample if NADA does not respond to your email regarding the expired kits used by the concerned DCO who had come to collect the athlete’s sample for doping test about two months ago. Following your refusal to undergo sample collection, the DCO of NADA also explained to you in detail the consequences and results as per NADR 2021. Despite all efforts of the DCO, you refused to undergo sample collection,” a NADA document said.

Bajrang was given until July 11 to respond to the notice.

“You have until July 11, 2024 to acknowledge the ADRV asserted, waive a hearing, and accept the proposed consequences by signing, dating, and returning the Acceptance of Consequences form attached to this letter,” the notice said.

If the violations committed by Punia are maintained, the NADA warned of possible consequences: “- Disqualification of the results at the event where the ADRV occurred, commission of the ADRV with all the resulting consequences, including loss of all medals, points and prizes. – A suspension of 4 years, subject to possible elimination, reduction or suspension in accordance with Article 10 of the NADR. – Automatic publication of the sanction.”

“Please note that all consequences are binding on NADA, the Wrestling Federation of India as well as all signatories to the World Anti-Doping Code in all sports and countries,” NADA added.

Notably, Punia was provisionally suspended by NADA on April 23 for allegedly refusing to provide a urine sample when approached by a NADA doping control officer after his bout in the selection trials for the qualifying tournament for the Paris Olympic Games in Sonepat on March 10 this year.

Subsequently, on April 25, United World Wrestling announced that the Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist had been provisionally suspended until the end of December this year.

The UWW stated at the time on Bajrang’s profile on its website: “Suspended until December 31, 2024 for the following reason. Provisionally suspended by NADO IND for alleged ADRV.”

After being suspended by NADA in April, Punia tweeted in May that he had “never refused” to give his sample to NADA officials. The wrestler took to the social media platform X to explain the events in detail.

“I would like to clarify that at no point did I refuse to provide my sample for doping control. When I was approached by alleged doping control officials on March 10, 2024, I simply reminded them that the last two times they had come to collect my sample, they had received expired kits once and the other time they had come to me with a single test kit instead of the three test kits,” Punia wrote on X.

https://x.com/BajrangPunia/status/1788809603414634917

The Olympic medalist further stated that he had asked NADA for clarification but had not heard back from them. He also claimed that officials did not provide him with any proof that they were carrying “proper equipment” and left the venue, claiming that he had refused to give them samples.

“I then demanded an answer from them as NADA did not respond to any of my requests for an explanation and informed them that I would provide my sample if I received such an explanation from them. The doping control officials not only refused to give an explanation but in this case they also did not provide me with any proof that they had the right equipment with them but simply walked away from the venue where I was and claimed it was a refusal on my part,” Punia explained.

According to the doping control officer’s report, Punia left his stadium seat despite being informed that if he refused, he would face a warning for violating the anti-doping rules.

Punia claimed he stayed at the venue for an hour after officials approached him about the doping test. He also said officials left mid-competition to “record” his refusal instead of accompanying him until he submitted his medical report to the competition director.

“I stayed at the venue as I had another bout scheduled for the 3/4 position. After my semi-final bout, I met the SAI doctor at the venue to seek treatment for a knee injury sustained during the semi-final of the wrestling trials. I left the venue only about an hour after the alleged doping control officers approached me, contrary to the representation that I left immediately. In fact, as per protocol, the doping control officer should have accompanied me until I submitted my medical report to the match director, instead of leaving in a hurry in the middle of the trials to document my refusal,” Punia added.

Bajrang said it was his “moral obligation” to the wrestling community to raise his voice against the “dangerous” trend of using expired kits for testing.

“Even if this incident is treated as a denial, the fact that it was due to NADA using expired test kits and not providing any explanation for their use or giving me any assurance that they had not used expired test kits again should be considered as a compelling justification. I have taken this stance solely because of NADA’s past actions which, without any explanation, could perpetuate a dangerous trend of using expired test kits or not adhering to the doping control protocol. It is my moral obligation to the wrestling community and particularly the younger wrestlers that I have perceived here,” Punia said.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without any modifications.