Vinesh Phogat disqualification: Wrestler won't be returning 'to India until...'

India women wrestler Vinesh Phogat won't be returning to India until the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) announces decision on her appeal against disqualification from Paris Olympics 2024. She's expected to arrive in the country on August 17 according to a social media post shared by fellow wrestler Bajrang Punia.

"Vinesh will not come to India until her verdict is announced," reported news agency ANI citing sources.

Phogat was disqualified from her 50kg freestyle gold medal bout on the morning of the contest, August 7for being overweight by 100 grams.

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She then filed an appeal on August 8, contesting the disqualification and demanded a joint-silver. The CAS, which was first expected to deliver a decision on August 9, first deferred it to August 13 before extending it till August 16.

Punia, on the other hand, shared a schedule for Phogat's arrival and subsequent program. Here below is the post:

सभी को नमस्कार 🙏🏼
विनेश फोगाट सुबह 10:00 am 17 August को एयरपोर्ट
पर पहुँच जायेगी ! pic.twitter.com/xxHYCTJ1GK — Bajrang Punia 🇮🇳 (@BajrangPunia) August 14, 2024

Indian Olympic contingent's chief physician Dinshaw Pardiwala informed on August 7 that the support staff did all they could to bring the weight down but unfortunately failed. She was later hospitalised at a local polyclinic as a precaution on the same day.

Phogat was discharged a day later from the hospital after recuperating from dehydration for trying to lose weight ahead of the final.

The entire Indian sports fraternity was in disbelief as soon as the news broke but Phogat, while speaking to coaches, called it 'part of the game,' reported news agency PTI.

IOC chief PT Usha, meanwhile, has thrown Vinesh under the bus in response to criticism directed towards the IOA medical team, saying in combat sports the athletes are responsible for their weight management.

"The responsibility of weight management of athletes in sports like wrestling, weightlifting, boxing and judo is that of each athlete and his or her coach and NOT that of the IOA-appointed Chief Medical Officer Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala and his team," Usha remarked in a statement.