Olympic bronze medallist Bajrang Punia has taken a bold step by moving the Delhi High Court against the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), seeking permission to compete in the upcoming World Wrestling Championships. This legal battle has garnered significant attention, highlighting the complexities and challenges faced by athletes in the realm of anti-doping regulations.
The Case with Bajrang Punia
Bajrang Punia, a celebrated wrestler and a prominent figure in Indian sports, was provisionally suspended by NADA on April 23, 2024. The suspension came after Bajrang allegedly refused to submit a urine sample during the Olympic selection trials in Sonepat on April 18, 2024. This refusal led to his suspension and a subsequent ban from participating in the World Wrestling Championships scheduled to be held in Albania from October 28 to 31, 2024.
Allegations Against NADA
In his petition, Bajrang has raised serious allegations against NADA, accusing the agency of multiple violations during the doping test process. He claimed that the doping control officer arrived with either a single or expired testing kit, which is a breach of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) protocols. Furthermore, Bajrang alleged that he was tested between bouts, which could have affected his performance, and that unauthorized officers collected his sample despite his name not being listed on NADA’s mission order.
With the Senior World Wrestling Championships set to take place in Albania this October, wrestler Bajrang Punia has filed a challenge in the Delhi High Court against his suspension by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA). #Wrestling #BajrangPunia #DelhiHighCourt #NADA… pic.twitter.com/wrPzWuoN3F
— LawChakra (@LawChakra) September 10, 2024
Legal Proceedings
Bajrang’s legal team has argued that NADA has not responded to his explanation since July 11, 2024, and has denied him a hearing. This lack of response has prompted Bajrang to seek an urgent hearing in the Delhi High Court. His lawyer, Vidushpat Singhania, emphasized the need for a swift resolution, given the proximity of the World Wrestling Championships.
The petition also highlights a previous incident where Bajrang was suspended for an alleged anti-doping rule violation, which was later revoked by a NADA hearing panel due to the lack of a formal notice of charge. This history of procedural lapses has further fueled Bajrang’s claims of negligence and arbitrary conduct by NADA.
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