National Anti-Doping Agency suspends Bajrang Punia for four years for violation of anti-doping code

The National Anti-Doping Agency on Tuesday suspended Bajrang Punia for four years for his refusal to provide his sample for a dope test on March 10 during selection trials for the national team.

NADA had first suspended the Tokyo Games bronze medallist wrestler on April 23 for the offense following which, the World Governing body UWW had also suspended him.

Bajrang had appealed against the provisional suspension and NADA’s Anti-Disciplinary Doping Panel (ADDP) had revoked it on May 31 till NADA issued the notice of charge.

NADA, then on June 23 served the notice to the wrestler.

Bajrang, who joined Congress along with fellow wrestler Vinesh Phogat and was given charge of All India Kisan Congress, had challenged the charge on July 11 in a written submission following which hearings were held on September 20 and October 4.

“The Panel holds that the Athlete is liable for sanctions under Article 10.3.1 and liable for ineligibility for 4 years,” the ADDP said in its order.

The suspension means that Bajrang will not be able to return to competitive wrestling and apply for a coaching job abroad if he aspires to.

“In the present case, since the Athlete had been provisionally suspended, the Panel accordingly holds that the Athlete’s period of his ineligibility for 4 years shall commence from the date on which the notification was sent, i.e., 23.04.2024.

“Needless to say on account of the lifting of the provisional suspension for the period from 31.05.2024 to 21.06.2024 shall not be credited into the total period of ineligibility of four years.” Bajrang has maintained since the beginning that he was given extremely prejudicial and unfair treatment with respect to doping control because of his involvement in the protest against former WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Bajrang also maintained that he never refused to give samples but only demanded to know NADA’s response to his email where he sought an answer as to why expired kits were sent to take his samples in December 2023.

NADA also explained the reason for its action, saying that the Chaperone/DCO had duly approached him and informed him that he was required to provide a urine sample for dope analysis purposes.

Bajrang in his written submission said that the conduct of NADA in two previous instances had created mistrust in the athlete’s mind, especially with NADA failing to acknowledge or even respond to their callous approach towards the doping control process in both such instances, the failure to take responsibility for their action about their dispersal of duties meant that the athlete was morally bound to take a stance in resort as a senior athlete who holds a voice in the sporting community.

Bajrang also said “It was not an outright refusal per se. The athlete was always willing to provide his sample provided that he first received a response from NADA concerning the use of expired kits.” However, NADA said, “the outright refusal by the athlete to provide a urine sample for the dope test was intentional and deliberate” and that “Athlete has demonstrated utter disregard towards his duties and responsibilities as per Articles 20.1 & 20.2 of the Anti Doping Rules, 2021.”