On wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s appeal against her disqualification from the finals at the Paris Olympics 2024, the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) said that players must ensure that they remain within their weight limits, and no exception can be provided under any circumstances.
The tribunal, however, admitted that failing to weigh in on the second day of the competition is very harsh for a player. On that day, Vinesh was disqualified for being overweight.
Vinesh was challenging in the 50kg category. On the day of the final match on August 8, she was found to be 100 grams overweight, after which she was disqualified. According to the rules of the UWW (wrestling’s global governing body), a weight exemption of two kg is given in some events like the Ranking Series, but there is no such exemption in the Olympics.
Vinesh became the first Indian female wrestler to qualify for the Olympic finals, but her disqualification stirred the wrestling world. After her spectacular victory over Japan’s great wrestler, Yui Susaki, Vinesh was considered a contender for the gold medal. Susaki had not lost a single match in her international career before this.
According to the detailed order issued by the Sports Arbitration on Monday, “The single bench hearing the case has concluded that the applicant had entered the 50 kg wrestling category of her own free will and she was well aware that she would have to maintain a weight below 50 kg for the competition.”
According to this, “Article seven of the rules clearly states that every competitor is considered to be participating with his own free will and is responsible for himself. She is entitled to compete only in a weight category, which is consistent with the weight at that time.”
He said, “The applicant is an experienced wrestler who has previously competed under the rules. There is no evidence that she did not understand the weight requirements. She voluntarily entered the 50 kg category, and there is a rule to maintain that weight limit.”
On August 14, the CAS ad hoc panel rejected her appeal against being disqualified from the final due to being 100 grams overweight, a decision that drew a sharp reaction from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).
According to CAS, “The problem for the player is that the rules regarding the weight limit are clear and the same for all participants. No exemption has been provided for this (upper limit). It is the player’s responsibility to stay below that limit.”
He said, “There is no dispute that the applicant’s weight was above the limit. Her case is that her weight was only 100 grams more, and it should be exempted because this happens due to drinking water, especially during the premenstrual phase.”
The Decision On Vinesh’s Appeal Was Postponed Thrice
The decision on her appeal was pronounced after three postponements. In her appeal, Vinesh had demanded that she be given a joint silver medal with Cuban wrestler Yusneylys Guzmán, who lost to her in the semi-finals.
The Cuban wrestler got a chance to play in the final after the 29-year-old Indian player was disqualified. American Sarah Ann Hildebrandt won the gold medal in this event. Vinesh was welcomed like a hero when she arrived in India on Sunday.
