
Indian wrestling star Bajrang Punia has been handed a four-year suspension by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) after he refused to provide a doping sample during national team selection trials on March 10. This decision, announced on Tuesday, could mark the end of Punia’s illustrious wrestling career. The suspension also prohibits him from coaching internationally during this period.
Initial Suspension in April
The Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist was first provisionally suspended by NADA on April 23. Following this, the world governing body for wrestling, United World Wrestling (UWW), also suspended him. Punia appealed the provisional suspension, and the NADA Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP) temporarily lifted it on May 31, pending further proceedings.
Association with Congress Party
On June 23, NADA issued a fresh notice to Punia. Around the same time, he joined the Congress party alongside fellow wrestler Vinesh Phogat and was appointed to the All India Kisan Congress. Punia submitted a written defense against the allegations on July 11, and hearings were conducted on September 20 and October 4.
Violation of Anti-Doping Rules
In its ruling, the ADDP stated that Punia violated Article 10.3.1 of the anti-doping regulations, which warrants a four-year suspension. The panel clarified that Punia’s suspension begins from the notification date of April 23, 2024. This decision prevents him from participating in competitive wrestling or applying for coaching jobs abroad during the suspension.
Punia’s Allegations Against NADA
Punia has maintained that the doping allegations stemmed from bias due to his participation in protests against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. He denied outright refusal to provide a sample, stating instead that he sought clarification from NADA regarding expired testing kits sent to him in December 2023.
NADA’s Response
NADA defended its action, stating that its officials had followed due procedure and informed Punia about the necessity of providing a urine sample for analysis. While Punia argued that he was willing to comply after receiving clarification about the expired kits, NADA concluded that his refusal constituted a deliberate violation of Articles 20.1 and 20.2 of the 2021 anti-doping rules, demonstrating negligence in fulfilling his obligations.
This suspension significantly impacts Punia’s career, raising questions about his future in the sport.