Dr. Annabelle Bennett to Hear Vinesh Phogat’s Case: CAS Announcement

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) announced that Dr. Annabelle Bennett AC SC (AUS) will act as Sole Arbitrator for Vinesh Phogat’s case. The hearing is scheduled to take place today, with a decision expected before the end of the Olympic Games.

Initially, Vinesh Phogat sought a ruling from the CAS Ad hoc Division to annul her disqualification, order a new weigh-in before the final match, and declare her eligible to participate in the final. However, she did not request urgent interim measures. The CAS Ad hoc Division process is expedited, but a final decision could not be issued within an hour, as the Respondent, UWW, needed to be heard first. The ongoing procedure confirms that Phogat is seeking the annulment of her disqualification and a (shared) silver medal.

Vinesh Phogat’s appeal, following her disqualification just before the gold medal bout in the women’s 50kg category at the Paris Olympics, has kept her hopes for an Olympic silver medal alive. Renowned Indian lawyer Harish Salve will represent the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) in this case, addressing legal and procedural issues.

After her disqualification, Phogat announced her retirement from wrestling in an emotional post on X, expressing her sense of defeat and gratitude. She stated, “Maa kushti (wrestling) won against me, I lost. Forgive me, your dream and my courage have been broken. I don’t have any more strength now. Goodbye Wrestling 2001-2024. I will always be indebted to you all for forgiveness.”

In response, Wrestling Federation of India President Sanjay Singh urged Phogat to reconsider her retirement decision. Singh suggested that Phogat’s announcement was hasty and advised her to discuss her decision with her family, the Federation, and other sports officials upon her return to India, emphasizing her significant contributions to the sport.