Vinesh Phogat Responds to WFI Show-Cause Notice, Confirms Participation in Upcoming Tournament
Phogat to Address WFI Notice, Confirms Competition Readiness
On Monday, Olympian Vinesh Phogat announced her intention to respond thoroughly to the show-cause notice issued by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). She emphasized her eligibility to compete and plans to take part in the Senior Open Ranking Tournament in Gonda.
In a post shared on X, Phogat revealed that she received the notice dated May 9 from the WFI. She intends to provide a detailed response to each point raised in the notice after consulting with her legal team and advisors. "I want to clarify some issues regarding the notice. The WFI has misunderstood the timeline of my break from competition and my return to training. Contrary to the WFI's claim of June 26, 2026, I have been eligible to resume training and competition since January 1, 2026," she stated.
Phogat confirmed that she has received official verification from the International Testing Agency (ITA), which is responsible for doping control in wrestling, affirming her eligibility for the tournament scheduled for May 10-12, 2026, at Nandini Nagar, Gonda.
She also mentioned that her registration for the event is complete, expressing her eagerness to return to competitive wrestling.
Denies Any Rule Breaches
Phogat firmly rejected allegations regarding her participation in two different weight categories during the 2024 selection trials at NIS Patiala. She stated, "Regarding the whereabouts failure from September 2024 and the missed test from December 2025, I have cooperated fully with the relevant authorities, and neither incident constitutes a violation of anti-doping rules as per the National Anti-Doping Rules, 2021 or the WADA Code, 2021."
She reiterated that she has received confirmation from the ITA regarding her eligibility for the upcoming tournament. Phogat also dismissed claims of violating rules by competing in two weight categories, asserting that the Ad-Hoc Committee overseeing the WFI was aware of her participation and raised no objections at that time.
Phogat plans to submit her detailed response to the WFI within the required 14-day timeframe, asserting her innocence and expressing her commitment to preparing for her return to competition. She looks forward to representing India in the 2026 Asian Games and other international events.
WFI Accusations Against Phogat
On May 9, the WFI issued a comprehensive show-cause notice to Phogat, accusing her of indiscipline and anti-doping violations, while declaring her ineligible for the upcoming National Open Ranking Tournament in Gonda.
The WFI outlined four significant charges against her, including her failure to meet weight requirements at the Paris Olympics, alleged anti-doping rule breaches, non-compliance with return-to-competition protocols after retirement, and violations during the March 2024 selection trials.
The WFI characterized Phogat's disqualification from the women's 50kg gold medal match at the Paris 2024 Olympics as a "national embarrassment," emphasizing her obligation to adhere to weight regulations throughout the competition.
The federation cautioned that failure to respond within the specified timeframe would lead to the matter proceeding without her input, allowing the WFI to make decisions as deemed appropriate.
Phogat's Career Overview
The 31-year-old wrestler had announced her retirement shortly after failing to make weight for the gold medal match at the Paris 2024 Olympics. However, she reversed her decision in December, aiming for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
Phogat reached the final of the women's 50kg event at Paris 2024, achieving this through a series of remarkable victories, including wins over Tokyo 2020 champion Yui Susaki from Japan, 2019 European Championships gold medalist Oksana Livach from Ukraine, and Pan American Games champion Yusneylis Guzman from Cuba.
She has previously secured gold medals in the 53kg category at both the 2018 Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.