The National Anti-Doping Agency has suspended Indian Professional Wrestler Bajrang Punia for Anti-doping rule violation after he refused to give his urine samples during the selection trials for the upcoming Olympic qualifiers. Punia took his social media account to put forward his reasons.
Using his official X handle, Punia said “This is to clarify that, I have at no stage refused to give my sample for doping control. On 10 March 2024, when I was approached by alleged doping control officials, I merely reminded them that the last two times they came to collect my sample, they had gotten expired kits once and on the other instance, they had approached me with a single testing kit as opposed to the three testing kits.”
This is to clarify that, I have at no stage refused to give my sample for doping control. On 10 March 2024, when I was approached by alleged doping control officials, I merely reminded them that the last two times they came to collect my sample, they had gotten expired kits once…
— Bajrang Punia 🇮🇳 (@BajrangPunia) May 10, 2024
Furthermore, he said “I then sought an answer from them as the NADA did not provide an answer to any of my communications demanding an explanation for the same and informed them that I would give my sample upon receiving such an explanation from them. Not only did the doping control officials refuse to provide an explanation, but they did not provide me with any proof on this instance of them carrying proper equipment and merely left from the venue where I was at, claiming it to be a refusal from my end,”
He then added, “I continued to be at the venue as I had another bout scheduled for 3/4 position. After my semifinal bout, I met the SAI doctor at the venue for treatment regarding a knee injury suffered during the semifinals of the Wrestling Trials.
“I only left the venue about an hour after the alleged doping control officials approached me, contrary to how it has been portrayed that I left immediately. In fact, the dope-controlling officer should have accompanied me till I submitted my medical report to the competition manager as per protocol, rather than leaving in a hurry in the middle of the trials, to record my refusal.
“Even if this incident is treated as refusal, the fact that it was due to NADA using expired kits and not providing an explanation for using them, or giving me comfort, that they had not carried expired kits again, should be considered as a compelling justification.
“I took such a stance solely because of the NADAs actions in the past, which, in the absence of an explanation, could continue a dangerous trend of the use of expired kits or non-compliance with doping control protocol. It is my moral obligation towards the wrestling community and particularly the younger wrestlers, that I exercised here,”
First, NADA suspended him on April 23 for his ‘refusal’ to give urine samples during the selection trails for Olympic Trials on March 10th.
Then UWW took the decision of suspending Punia till December 31, 2024, as he was ‘provisionally suspended’ by NADA for allegedly violating the anti-doping rule.
Punia through his Counsel Vidushpat Singhania filed a reply on NADA’s notice on Tuesday and is yet to have a hearing of his case before the anti-doping disciplinary panel.
Even though it was a provisional suspension by NADA, which stands as a competent authority, for all the competitions and sports activities and is valid till the charge is disposed off, but is still not clear how UWW came up with the exact date till which Punia will be suspended.