Bajrang Punia suspended for four years, unable to fight or seek training opportunities abroad: full schedule of events

Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia has been suspended by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) for four years for refusing to submit a sample for an anti-doping test on March 10 during the national team selection trials. This decision was taken after NADA initially suspended Bajrang Punia for the same offense on April 23, which led to his subsequent suspension by the World Governing Body (UWW).

This suspension means he will not be able to compete in professional wrestling or seek training opportunities abroad if he so desires.

Bajrang contested the initial interim suspension and on May 31, NADA’s Anti-Disciplinary Disciplinary Panel (ADDP) temporarily lifted the suspension pending the issuance of an official notice of charges. On June 23, NADA officially notified him of the allegations.

In response, Bajrang, who allied with the Congress party along with fellow wrestler Vinesh Phogat and took over the leadership of the All India Kisan Congress, filed a complaint on July 11 against the allegations. Then, auditions took place on September 20 and October 4.

ADDP stated that Bajrang was liable for sanctions under Art. 10.3.1, resulting in a four-year ineligibility.

“The Panel finds that the athlete is subject to penalties under Article 10.3.1 and faces disqualification for a period of 4 years,” ADDP said in its decision.

“In this case, since the athlete has been provisionally suspended, the panel therefore finds that the athlete’s 4-year ineligibility begins on the date the notification was sent, April 23, 2024.

“Needless to say, due to the lifting of the temporary suspension for the period from 31/05/2024 to 21/06/2024, this does not count towards the total four-year period of disqualification.”

Bajrang shouts foul play

Bajrang has consistently claimed that he was subjected to unfair doping control treatment due to his participation in protests against former Indian Wrestling Federation president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. He insisted that he never outright refused to provide the sample, but rather sought clarification from NADA regarding his concerns about the use of expired test kits sent for his samples in December 2023.

NADA defended its actions, confirming that the supervisor/doping control officer (DCO) had properly addressed him explaining the requirement to provide a urine sample for analysis. In his written defense, Bajrang said NADA’s past conduct had created a lack of trust, saying the organization’s lack of acknowledgment or response to past incidents had undermined his confidence in the doping control process. As a prominent athlete in the sports community, he felt a moral obligation to address these concerns.

Bajrang said it is always willing to provide the sample provided it receives appropriate replies from NADA regarding the expired kits. However, NADA maintained that his non-cooperation was both intentional and deliberate, claiming that he had demonstrated flagrant disregard of his obligations under Articles 20.1 and 20.2 of the 2021 Anti-Doping Rules.