The Nationwide Anti-Doping Company (NADA) on Tuesday suspended Bajrang Punia, a bronze medallist on the Tokyo Video games, for 4 years for violating the anti-doping code. The NADA suspended Punia for refusing to present a pattern for a dope take a look at throughout choice trials in March.
The suspension begins on April 23, 2024. NADA had initially suspended Bajrang on April 23 for the offence, which was additionally supported by the World Governing physique UWW. The World physique had additionally suspended the grappler. Bajrang challenged the provisional suspension, following which the NADA’s Anti-Disciplinary Doping Panel (ADDP) had revoked it on Could 31. The revocation was in drive till the formal issuance of a discover by NADA on June 23. Bajrang had challenged the cost in writing on July 11.
The hearings on Bajrang’s case had been performed on September 20 and October 4. NADA’s Anti-Disciplinary Doping Panel (ADDP) confirmed the suspension in its order. “The Panel holds that the Athlete is responsible for sanctions beneath Article 10.3.1 and responsible for ineligibility for a interval of 4 years,” the ADDP mentioned in its order.
“Within the current case, because the Athlete had been provisionally suspended, the Panel accordingly holds that the Athlete’s interval of his ineligibility for the interval of 4 years shall start from the date on which the notification was despatched, i.e., 23.04.2024.
“For sure that on account of the lifting of the provisional suspension for the interval from 31.05.2024 to 21.06.2024 shall not be credited into the full interval of ineligibility of 4 years,” it added.
Bajrang repeatedly claimed unfair therapy in doping management on account of his protest towards former WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. He mentioned that he didn’t refuse to present his pattern and sought an evidence from the NADA on the expired kits used for accumulating samples final yr in December.
NADA had said that the Chaperone/DCO had instructed the grappler of the necessity to present a urine pattern for evaluation. Bajrang identified distrust on account of NADA’s earlier conduct.
Bajrang mentioned he wished to present a pattern as soon as the company addressed issues about expired kits. Nonetheless, it mentioned that the refusal was intentional. It emphasised that Bajrang’s actions had been deliberate and demonstrated an absence of respect for his duties as an athlete beneath the anti-doping rules.