CAS Full Verdict on Vinesh Phogat: India’s star wrestler Vinesh Phogat was the most talked about in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Vinesh Phogat, who reached the final with a strong performance in 50 kg women’s wrestling, was disqualified due to being 100 grams overweight. However, after this Vinesh appealed for the silver medal in the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), but her case was rejected. Now the full report of the 24-page decision of CAS has come out, which revealed why Vinesh’s case was rejected.
Important points from the decision on Vinesh Phogat
CAS has issued a detailed order on the Vinesh Phogat case. According to this order, “The single bench hearing the case has concluded that the applicant participated in the 50 kg wrestling category of her own free will and she was well aware that she would have to maintain her weight below 50 kg for the competition.”
The order further said, “Article 7 of the Rules makes it clear that every athlete is considered to be participating of his own free will and is responsible for himself. He is entitled to compete only in a weight category which corresponds to the weight he was at that time. The applicant is an experienced wrestler who has previously competed under the Rules. There is no evidence that she did not understand the weight requirements. She voluntarily entered the 50 kg category and there is a rule to maintain that weight limit.”
CAS further said, “The rules regarding weight limits are clear and the same for all participants. There is no exemption provided for it (upper limit). It is clearly the responsibility of the athlete to stay below that limit. There is no dispute that the applicant was overweight. Her case is that she was only 100 grams overweight and should be exempted, as this is a result of drinking water and particularly during the premenstrual phase.”
Let us tell you that in her appeal, Vinesh Phogat had demanded that she be given a joint silver medal with Cuban wrestler Yusnelis Guzman Lopez, who lost to her in the semi-finals. After India’s 29-year-old Vinesh was disqualified, the Cuban wrestler got a chance to play in the final. The gold medal in this event was won by America’s Sarah Ann Hildebrandt.