Bajrang Punia suspended by United World Wrestling until end of year

Tokyo Olympic Bronze medalist, Bajrang Punia has been suspended until the end of 2024. This suspension has put a halt to his participation in competitive wrestling, as Bajrang Punia suspended. The 20-year-old Haryana wrestler previously faced suspension by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) on April 23rd for refusing to undergo a dope test after being served a whereabouts failure notice on April 18.

Bajrang Punia Suspended: A Disruptive Twist in Olympic Preparations

Bajrang Punia finds himself in the middle of an anti-doping controversy. The Indian wrestler has been provisionally suspended by the United World Wrestling (UWW) until the end of 2024, mirroring a similar action taken by NADA. Punia, however, maintains his innocence, claiming he never refused to provide a sample but merely asked for clarification from the Doping Control Officer regarding the use of allegedly expired testing kits which were brought to take his sample.

Interestingly, Punia claims he never received any official communication from the UWW, yet their system reflects his inactive status, stating, “Suspended for the following reason until Dec 31, 2024… Provisionally suspended by NADO IND for alleged ADRV (Anti-Doping Rule Violation).”

This controversy hinders Punia’s training plans as Bajrang Punia suspended. The proposal that Punia proposed to the Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) also included travel plans of his strength and conditioning coach Kaazi Kiron Mustafa Hasan and his sparring partner Jitender. The MOC approved nearly Rs. 9 lakh for his proposed training period in Dagestan, Russia, from May 28th. This revised date is particularly noteworthy.

Punia’s initial proposal was for an April 24th departure, but the MOC minutes cite “conflicting travel dates due to his whereabouts failure” as the reason for the postponement. This implies that there could be a potential link between the suspension and the initial travel conflict, adding another layer of curiosity to the situation amidst Bajrang Punia suspended.

In a head scratching move, Punia confirmed that he had submitted a proposal to the SAI for training abroad, which was surprisingly approved despite the ongoing suspension. “I am also surprised that SAI cleared it,” Punia stated, highlighting the unanticipated nature of the approval. This unexpected turn of events raises questions about the communication interarticulation between the sporting bodies.

However, Punia swiftly clarified his stance, saying “I have actually cancelled my plan, I am not going anywhere for training now.” adding that his lawyer has filed the reply to NADA. This decision tells about the wrestler’s mindset and clears his priorities resolving the suspension before resuming international training, while Bajrang Punia suspended.

Amidst this, the Wrestling Federation of India’s (WFI) recent Management Committee meeting addressed two critical aspects of the journey to the Paris Olympics for women’s wrestlers in the 57 kg category. In the discussion, Sarita Mor, a competitor, received a sanctioned amount of ₹5,96,000 for a training stint in the U.S. accompanied by her husband and coach, Rahul Mann. Meanwhile, Anshu Malik, having secured the coveted Olympic quota during the Asian Qualifiers in Bishkek, received approval for the allocation of ₹14,67,000 for a training program in Japan alongside her father and coach, Dharamveer Malik.

The presence of a quota holder, however, unveils a unique challenge. Should the WFI decide to hold a final selection event, Sarita, despite her experience, would need to emerge victorious to potentially challenge Anshu’s claim to the Olympic berth. This potential scenario sets the stage with both wrestlers competing for the ultimate dream of representing India at the Paris Games.

While the full picture still remains unclear, one thing is certain: Punia faces an uphill battle. He must not only clear his name but also cross the logistical hurdles imposed by the suspension. The coming months will be crucial in determining his fate and his ability to compete on the international stage.

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