"I am deemed eligible to compete by ITA," says Vinesh Phogat after WFI bars her from competing until June
Vinesh Phogat, in a statement, asserted that the WFI got the timeline of her sabbatical wrong.
Vinesh’s part in the wrestlers’ protest last year, which put her at the centre of this political divide, had not been against any political party but instead against one sexual abuser within its ranks, but that is a concept that is hard to wrap heads around for many. (FILE PHOTO: AP)
Two days after the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) issued a show-cause notice and barred her from competing until June 2026, Vinesh Phogat asserted that the national federation has got the timeline of her "sabbatical" from the sport wrong.
"I acknowledge receipt of the show cause notice dated 09.05.2026 issued by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) to me," Phogat said in a statement.
"The WFI has misinterpreted the timelines of my sabbatical from sport and subsequent return to training and competitions. As opposed to the date stated by the WFI in their notice, i.e., June 26, 2026, I have been deemed eligible to return to official training and competition on January 1, 2026.
"I have official confirmation from the International Testing Agency (ITA) the agency hired by the international federation UWW, the relevant international federation governing doping control for wrestling, pertaining to the same," she added.
The WFI, in its show cause notice, had contended that Vinesh hadn't informed her return to the sport to the ITA and as per the rules of UWW, she remains ineligible to compete for a six-month period until 26 June, 2026.
"I am eligible to participate in the 2026 Senior Open Ranking Tournament at Nandini Nagar, Gonda scheduled for May 10-12, 2026," said Phogat.
"Having completed my registration for the same, I do intend to participate in the Tournament and mark my return to the mat in a competitive event," she added.
As per multiple reports, Phogat has already checked into a hotel in Ayodhya, which is just a few kilometeres away from Gonda where the national ranking tournament is set to be held.
The verification process for women athletes for the event is slated to start at 5pm on Monday before the competition begins on Tuesday.
It now remains to be seen whether the WFI will allow Phogat to compete in the tournament at all.
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