NADA issued notice to Vinesh Phogat, asked her to respond in this matter within 14 days

Indian female wrestler athlete Vinesh Phogat, who was disqualified just before the gold medal in the women’s 50 kg category in the Paris Olympics 2024 for being 100 grams overweight, has now been issued a notice by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) on 25 September. NADA issues this notice in case the athlete does not appear at the scheduled time and place for the dope test as it is considered a violation of the rules. In this case, Vinesh has also been given 14 days to respond by NADA.

Vinesh did not give information about her correct address.

According to the official information of the notice issued by NADA to Vinesh Phogat, Vinesh did not give the correct information about her address to NADA. Vinesh had informed me about being available for a dope test at her home in Kharkhauda village of Sonipat on 9 September, but she was not found there at the appointed time, which is considered a violation of NADA rules. In the notice issued by NADA to Vinesh, she has been given a chance to give her clarification before taking a final decision in this matter. NADA had sent an officer to DAV for Vinesh’s dope test, but she was not present there.

Now what option does Vinesh have?

In this notice issued by NADA to Vinesh Phogat, she will either have to admit her mistake or prove that she stayed at the place designated for the dope test for about an hour. However, if we look at the anti-doping rules, if the athlete is not present at the designated place, then it is not considered a violation of this rule, if the athlete does not give his dope test at the designated place and time three times in a year, then any action can be taken against the athlete.