National Anti-Doping Agency suspends Bajrang Punia again and charges him with

Bajrang had appealed against the provisional suspension and the ADDP had lifted it on May 31, pending the issue of a charge sheet by the NADA.

The NADA took immediate action and handed the notice to the wrestler on Sunday.

“This serves as formal notification that you are accused of violating Article 2.3 of the 2021 National Anti-Doping Rules and are now provisionally suspended,” NADA said in its message to Bajrang.

Bajrang has until July 11 to request a hearing or accept the charges.

The elite wrestler has stressed that he never refused to provide a sample, but merely requested NADA’s response to his email in which he wanted to know why he was sent expired kits to collect his samples in December 2023.

Bajrang’s lawyer Vidhushpat Singhania told PTI that they would appeal against the suspension.

“Yes, we will have to file a response,” Singhania said.

The NADA also explained the reasons for its actions.

“The Supervisor/DCO has duly contacted you and informed you that you must 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 unless NADA responds to your email regarding the expired kits used by the concerned DCO when he had come to collect the athlete’s sample for the doping test about two months ago.

“Following your refusal to submit to a sample collection, the NADA DCO also explained to you in detail the consequences and results in accordance with NADR 2021.

“Despite all efforts by the DCO, you refused to submit to sample collection.” NADA clarified that in case of an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV), it “will seek disqualification of the results of the event at which the ADRV occurred as well as the commission of the ADRV with all the resulting consequences, including the loss of all medals, points and prizes.” NADA may also, at its discretion, decide to recover from Bajrang the financial costs associated with the ADRV or impose a fine in accordance with the provisions of the NADR 2021.

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