After Bajrang Punia s Suspension, WFI Hits Out at Anti-Doping Agency

New Delhi: The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) has suspended Olympic medallist wrestler Bajrang Punia for refusing to submit a urine sample to dope control officers during recent trials in Sonepat. Punia, however, has said that he never refused to provide a sample, but simply questioned whether action had been taken over the expired kit that had been brought to collect his sample.

The case will be heard by NADA's anti-doping disciplinary panel. If the proceedings go against Punia, it is possible that he will be banned for two years and unable to participate in the Paris Olympics.

Meanwhile, the controversy appears to have created a fissure between NADA and the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). "It's really surprising that NADA did not keep us in loop while suspending Bajrang. I had a meeting with NADA DG and other officials on April 25 and this matter was not raised in that meeting," WFI president Sanjay Singh told PTI.

"They keep communicating with us on matters such as whereabout clause requirements, long list (for Paris Olympics) and so on. Even we had a discussion about the recent Federation Cup, where they sent officials to collect samples from the winners. But they did not let us know about this suspension of Bajrang Punia. I called NADA officials this morning and they had no answer to my query. Now, I plan to write to NADA and also inform WADA about this," he continued.

An official statement from NADA on April 23 stated, "With subject to paragraph 4:1:2 below and in accordance with article 7.4 of the NADR 2021, Bajrang Punia has been immediately provisionally suspended from participation in any competition or activity prior to the final decision reached at a hearing in this matter."

Punia was one of the wrestlers at the forefront of protests against BJP MP and former WFI head Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been accused of sexually harassing and intimidating women wrestlers. Just last week, Punia spoke out against the BJP's decision to give a Lok Sabha ticket to Brij Bhushan's son, Karan Singh, from Uttar Pradesh's Kaiserganj.