Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia, a bronze medalist at the Tokyo Olympics, has been handed a four-year suspension by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) for refusing to provide a urine sample during the selection trials for the national wrestling team on March 10, 2024. The suspension, which is in accordance with NADA’s Anti-Doping Rules, follows a violation of Article 10.3.1.
NADA had initially imposed a provisional suspension on Bajrang on April 23, 2024. Shortly after, the World Wrestling Governing Body (UWW) followed suit, issuing its own suspension. However, Bajrang successfully appealed the provisional suspension, leading NADA’s Anti-Disciplinary Doping Panel (ADDP) to lift it on May 31, 2024, pending further investigation. A formal charge was served on June 23, 2024, and after hearings held on September 20 and October 4, the ADDP ruled to impose a four-year ban, effective from April 23, 2024.
The suspension means Bajrang will be ineligible to compete in wrestling and may be barred from pursuing international coaching roles during this period. Additionally, the suspension period excludes the time between May 31 and June 21, 2024, when the provisional suspension was lifted.
Bajrang has contended that his refusal to submit a sample was not intentional but stemmed from concerns over NADA’s procedures. He alleged that expired testing kits were used and claimed that his refusal was a result of a lack of trust in the agency’s processes. “It wasn’t an outright refusal. I was willing to give my sample once I received clarification from NADA on the use of expired kits,” he said.
The wrestler also linked the incident to his involvement in protests against the former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, suggesting that the suspension was influenced by personal bias.
In response, NADA maintained that Bajrang’s refusal was deliberate, highlighting that the athlete’s actions showed a disregard for anti-doping responsibilities, which is a violation of its 2021 rules.
This case has sparked debate on the relationship between athletes and anti-doping agencies, with Bajrang’s stance shedding light on issues of trust and procedural transparency in sports governance.
