The ad-hoc division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Wednesday dismissed wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s petition to be awarded a joint silver medal at the Paris Olympics. This decision came just a day after CAS had extended the deadline for its verdict, initially deferring the ruling until August 16, Friday.
The verdict signed by Sole Arbitrator Annabelle Bennett read, “The application filed by Vinesh Phogat on 7 August 2024 is dismissed.” A detailed order is expected in the coming days.
Vinesh Phogat was disqualified for being 100 grams overweight during the weigh-in on the morning of the women’s 50kg freestyle final last week.
The rejection of Vinesh’s appeal means India’s tally from the Paris Olympics will be of six medals – one silver and five bronze.
In a statement, IOA President PT Usha expressed “shock and disappointment at the decision of the Sole Arbitrator at the CAS to dismiss wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s application against the United World Wrestling (UWW) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).”
“The operative part of the August 14 decision, which dismisses Vinesh’s application to be awarded a shared silver medal in women’s 50 kg category at the Paris Olympic Games has significant implications for her in particular and the sporting community at large,” the IOA stated.
Meanwhile, Phogat, who is in Paris, will return to India on August 17, wrestler Bajrang Punia said.