The Delhi High Court on Monday declined to grant wrestler Vinesh Phogat immediate permission to participate in the Asian Games selection trials, stating that the opposing party must be heard before such relief can be considered. Phogat had approached the court seeking a directive to allow her participation in the May 30-31 trials, despite being declared ineligible by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).
Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating that the court, presided over by Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, allowed Phogat to submit a comprehensive reply to a show cause notice issued to her. The notice pertains to allegations of indiscipline and anti-doping rule violations. The court has directed the WFI to expedite the process of concluding the inquiry related to the show cause notice by July 6 and to submit its decision to the court.
The court issued notices to the WFI and the Central government concerning Phogat’s petition challenging her ineligibility. Justice Kaurav acknowledged the need to balance the competing interests involved in the case, noting that while an athlete’s status during maternity leave is often protected internationally, the WFI’s recent policy appeared to exclude her.
Phogat’s legal counsel argued that she should be permitted to compete in the upcoming Asian Games trials. The counsel highlighted that international practices generally protect the rankings and status of female athletes who have taken maternity leave, a consideration seemingly overlooked by the WFI’s latest policy.
During the proceedings, Justice Kaurav orally remarked that granting immediate relief without hearing the WFI would be difficult. The judge emphasized the need to review the WFI’s policy and acknowledged the athlete’s maternity break, but also underscored the importance of national interest. “Therefore, let them file a reply,” the judge stated.
The court granted the respondents two weeks to file their responses to Phogat’s petition. Her counsel further contended that there were underlying issues beyond the stated reasons for her ineligibility. Phogat was reportedly barred from participating in a competition in Gonda on May 10-11, just a day after the show cause notice was issued to her on May 9. Her counsel suggested that the timing of the notice and the issues raised, particularly concerning the Paris Olympics 2024, indicated that “something more than what meets the eye” was at play.
The court scheduled the next hearing for July 6. It granted Phogat liberty to file a detailed response to the show cause notice. In the interim, the WFI was instructed to bring the inquiry initiated by the show cause notice to its logical conclusion before the next date of hearing. Any decision rendered was to be submitted on record.
The Wrestling Federation of India had previously declared Vinesh Phogat ineligible to participate in domestic events until June 26, 2026. This decision was reportedly based on anti-doping rules mandating a six-month notice period for athletes returning from retirement. Despite this, Phogat had reportedly appeared at the National Open Ranking Tournament held in Gonda.
Vinesh Phogat was among the prominent women wrestlers who participated in protests in 2023 against alleged sexual harassment by the then-president of the WFI, Brijbhushan Sharan Singh. In a separate incident in August 2024, she was disqualified from the 50kg category Olympic finals after weighing 100 grams over the limit during the morning weigh-in.
❤️ Support Independent Journalism
Your contribution keeps our reporting free, fearless, and accessible to everyone.
Or make a one-time donation
Secure via Razorpay • 12 monthly payments • Cancel anytime before next cycle
(We don't allow anyone to copy content. For Copyright or Use of Content related questions, visit here.)
The Chenab Times News Desk
