‘Political conspiracy’, says wrestler

Terming his four years suspension as a political conspiracy, Olympian wrestler and Congress leader Bajrang Punia has accused the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) of indulging into a political vendetta against his activism.
Reacting sharply to NADA, the bronze medalist at the Tokyo Olympics said the agency’s decision was the result of personal enmity and vowed to fight the decision. He alleged that NADA had come to him for the dope test with an expired kit and he has evidence of it.
“This four-year ban is the result of personal enmity and a political conspiracy against me. This action has been taken as revenge for the movement we led in support of female wrestlers. In that movement, we raised our voices against injustice and exploitation,” Punia said in a post shared on X.
Punia claimed that he was never opposed to undergoing a doping test but accused the NADA team of taking an expired kit for his doping test.
“This was a serious oversight, and I merely requested that the test be conducted with a valid and certified kit. This was essential for safeguarding both my health and my career. However, this situation was deliberately used as a weapon against me”, he added.
Punia also levelled serious allegations on the BJP government and the federation of hatching a conspiracy against him to end his career by trapping him. “NADA’s actions have proven that fairness is not their priority. Many such institutions are operating under the government’s directives. The real intent behind this ban is to silence me and prevent me from raising my voice against wrongdoing,” said the post.
“Let me make it clear that even if I am banned for life, I will not stop raising my voice against injustice. This fight is not just mine; it belongs to every athlete who has been silenced by the system. I will appeal against this decision and fight for my rights until my last breath,” Punia said.
Punia along with star wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik had led a protest against the former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bushan Saran Singh. Later, ahead of Haryana Assembly Elections Punia and Phogat had joined the Congress party; later Punia was appointed as the working chairman of All India Kisan Congress.
According to NADA, Punia was suspended for refusing to submit a sample for a doping test on March 10 during the national team selection trials. This decision came after NADA had initially suspended Bajrang Punia on April 23 for the same offence, which led to a subsequent suspension by the World Governing Body, UWW. However, there are reports that Punia’s legal team has indicated plans to file an appeal, challenging the ban in higher forums.