Star wrestler Bajrang Punia accused the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) of providing him with expired kits for his sample tests. The controversy erupted after reports surfaced about Punia’s provisional suspension by NADA for not providing a urine sample during selection trials at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre in Sonipat on March 10.
This suspension, unless overturned, could prevent him from competing in the selection trials set for June, jeopardizing his hopes of securing a spot in the 65kg category for the Paris Olympics.
Bajrang Punia defends his supension
In response to the suspension, Punia reposted a video on X (formerly Twitter), explaining his reasons for refusing to provide a sample during the trials in March. In the video, he stated that the DCO had given him expired kits for an out-of-competition test in December the previous year. He said, “I want to clarify the news about me being asked to take a dope test! I never refused to give my sample to NADA officials. I requested them to first answer me as to what action they took on the expired kits they brought to take my sample earlier and then take my dope test.”
मेरे बारे में जो डोप टेस्ट के लिए ख़बर आ रही है उसके लिये मैं स्पष्ट करना चाहता हूँ !!! मैंने कभी भी नाडा अधिकारियों को sample देने से इनकार नहीं किया, मैंने उनसे अनुरोध किया कि वे मुझे जवाब दें कि उन्होंने पहले मेरा sample लेने के लिए जो एक्सपायरी किट लाई थी, उस पर उन्होंने क्या… pic.twitter.com/aU676ADyy3
— Bajrang Punia 🇮🇳 (@BajrangPunia) May 5, 2024
Punia’s lawyer, Vidushpat Singhania, revealed plans to challenge the suspension in court. “We need to access the case file. We will be filing a reply to the NADA notice soon,” he said.
The wrestler’s Paris Olympic qualification process is now uncertain. Punia will have to appear before a disciplinary panel, and the hearing could take weeks or even months, which may further delay his preparations for the Olympics.
 centre in Sonipat on March 10.){kind=link}