Vinesh Phogat CAS Verdict Highlights: The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has delayed its ruling on Vinesh Phogat’s appeal against her disqualification from the Paris Games until August 16, marking the third postponement of the decision. Vinesh, 29, faced disqualification from the Paris 2024 Olympics women’s 50kg wrestling final after being found 100 grams overweight. She submitted two appeals to CAS: one challenging her ineligibility for the final, and the other seeking to be considered for a joint-silver medal. While CAS rejected the first appeal, it has accepted the second.
Vinesh Phogat’s Olympic journey was marred by challenges. While winning a medal could make up for missed chances, the core issue is the need for systemic change. Phogat embodies the fight against injustice and the suppression of women’s aspirations. True success lies in fostering a society where such mistreatment is intolerable, ensuring respect and fairness for everyone, regardless of their achievements on the field.
Vinesh Phogat missed her chance to compete for the gold medal at the Paris Olympics due to disqualification. She was found to exceed the 50kg weight limit in her wrestling category before the final round. Subsequently, Vinesh appealed the decision with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), requesting to be awarded a joint silver medal in the 50kg category.
Dr. PT Usha, president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), clarified on Sunday that the responsibility for managing weight in sports like wrestling, weightlifting, boxing, and judo lies with the athletes and their coaches, not the IOA-appointed Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala, and his team. Each Indian athlete competing in the Paris 2024 Olympics has their own support team, which has been working with them for years. The IOA’s recently appointed medical team is focused on recovery and injury management during and after competitions, as well as supporting athletes lacking their own nutritionists and physiotherapists.
As India awaits the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s decision on Vinesh Phogat’s joint silver medal plea, Sachin Tendulkar criticized the disqualification rules as illogical. Phogat was 100 grams over the limit on the second day, though she was within it initially. The disqualification sparked widespread controversy and support from wrestling circles.
In a daring move, Vinesh Phogat competed in both the 50 kg and 53 kg categories at the Indian trials in March 2024, aiming to secure a spot at the Paris Olympics. She triumphed in the 50 kg trials and finished in the top four of the 53 kg category. Despite her impressive performances, a narrow weight cut miss in August 2024 prevented an Olympic medal. Phogat’s bold strategy and resilience underscore the complexities athletes face in weight categories and inspire future competitors.
According to a report by Indian Express, Vinesh Phogat’s team argued that her 100-gram overweight issue was due to factors beyond her control, including the distance between the Champ de Mars Arena and the Athletes Village, and a tight competition schedule. They emphasized that this slight weight excess did not offer her any competitive advantage and was merely a result of the “classic and essential recovery process.”
The team highlighted that the additional 100 grams—constituting about 0.1 to 0.2 percent of her body weight—could be attributed to natural body fluctuations caused by summer heat, which leads to water retention for survival. They also noted that muscle mass increase from competing multiple times in one day and post-competition food consumption for maintaining health could contribute to the weight gain. Vinesh’s counsel argued that these factors should be considered as part of the standard recovery and adaptation process.
Vinesh Phogat departed from the Paris Olympic Games village yesterday following the closing ceremony of the 33rd Summer Games. She is expected to arrive in New Delhi today. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will deliver its verdict on her appeal for a joint silver medal later this evening, following her disqualification from the Paris Olympics.