India regrets CAS decision to uphold Olympic wrestler's disqualification

The decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to reject Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat's appeal against his disqualification from the 2024 Paris Olympics for being overweight was greeted with sadness by India, which had supported its athlete throughout the process.

Phogat was disqualified from the 50kg wrestling event on August 7 for exceeding the weight limit by 100 grams during the weigh-in before the gold medal bout, and was placed last in the standings with no chance of winning a medal. Her coach Virendra Dahiya told Indian news agency PTI that everything "is very unfortunate and shocking. We were expecting the decision to be in our favour".

The wrestler had been on a strict diet in the hours leading up to the weigh-in, eating and drinking very little to reach the 50kg limit, which eventually landed her in hospital. Her team also cut off her hair and clothes in an attempt to lose as much weight as possible, but to no avail.

The athlete's team appealed the disqualification the next day, asking that Phogat be awarded a shared silver medal as she had made the weight in the bouts that that got her into the final. However, CAS rejected the appeal in a brief statement, saying it would soon publish the legal basis. The court had postponed its decision three times, raising expectations in India, which was hoping for a possible seventh medal and a second silver at Paris 2024.

CAS has confirmed the disqualification of Paris 2024 wrestler Vinesh Phogat. GETTY IMAGES

"It is disappointing. Vinesh has worked very hard and we were hopeful even when the deadline was extended. It is disappointing that the court has rejected the appeal," Indian Olympic Association (IOA) lawyer Vidhuspat Singhania told PTI last night.

Until her disqualification, Phogat was the first Indian wrestler to qualify for a final. However, she announced her withdrawal just a day after her disqualification, saying she did not have the "strength to continue". The athlete had received full support from India after her disqualification, including from the government, which announced that it had "lodged a strong protest with the International Wrestling Federation," according to Agencia EFE.

The IOA was also criticised, particularly on social media, for not checking the wrestler's weight, with its president PT Usha saying in a statement that the wrestler and her team were responsible and not the Indian committee doctors.