WFI Issues Show-cause Notice To Vinesh, Declares Her Ineligible To Compete 'atleast Until June 26'

WFI issues show-cause notice to Vinesh, declares her ineligible to compete 'atleast until June 26' (Image Source: IANS)

Senior Open Ranking Tournament: The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has issued a formal show cause notice to three-time Olympian Vinesh Phogat, citing "grave acts of indiscipline" and multiple rule violations that the federation claims have caused "national embarrassment".

The WFI has also declared Vinesh "ineligible" to participate in any sanctioned competitions or events until at least June 26, 2026. This ban specifically excludes her from the 2026 Senior Open Ranking Tournament scheduled to begin Sunday in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh.

The federation stated this measure was necessary because her December 2025 notification of return to training did not meet the mandatory six-month notice period required by international regulations.

The 15-page notice, dated May 9, calls on Vinesh to explain why disciplinary action should not be initiated against her following a series of incidents spanning from the Paris 2024 Games to recent anti-doping failures. Copies of the notice have been forwarded to the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, the Indian Olympic Association, NADA, and United World Wrestling.

"Pending submission and consideration of your reply, on the basis of your letter/ email dated 12 December 2025 your minimum requirement of 6 months period has not yet expired and as a consequence you shall not be eligible to participate in any WFI competitions and events till 26.06.2026 including your ineligibility to participate in the 2026 Senior Open Ranking Tournament at Nandini Nagar, Gonda (10-12 May 2026) and any other forthcoming national, ranking, selection and international competitions, in the wider interest of the sport and the Federation," the WFI stated in a 15-page notice.

The WFI has outlined four primary charges against the wrestler, which also included the failure to make the weight at the Paris Olympics 2024 final, which led to her disqualfication. The federation noted that this resulted in the loss of an assured medal and "lasting damage" to the reputation of Indian wrestling.

The WFI also cited a "Recorded Missed Test" from December 18, 2025, notified by the International Testing Agency (ITA) on May 4, 2026. Additionally, she is accused of failing to comply with National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) requirements in September 2024.

It also alleged that Phogat violated UWW rules by competing in two different weight categories (50 kg and 53 kg) on the same day during the selection trials held in March 2024 at NIS Patiala.

According to the notice, Phogat failed to follow Article 5.7 of the UWW Anti-Doping Rules, which requires a retired athlete to give six months' written notice before returning to competition and remain available for testing during that period.

The WFI further characterised Vinesh's pattern of whereabouts failures as conduct "prejudicial to the integrity of doping control".

According to the notice, Phogat failed to follow Article 5.7 of the UWW Anti-Doping Rules, which requires a retired athlete to give six months' written notice before returning to competition and remain available for testing during that period.

"Please take notice that should you fail to submit your written reply within the stipulated period of fourteen (14) days, or fail to avail of the opportunity of personal hearing if and when offered, the Federation shall be constrained to proceed ex parte and pass such order(s) as it may deem fit and proper on the basis of the material on record", it stated.

Article Source: IANS