NADA Suspends Bajrang, WFI Fumes For Not Being Kept In Loop

THE National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) handed Tokyo Games bronze medallist wrestler Bajrang Punia provisional suspension for refusing to give his sample for dope test during the selection trials held on March 10 and 11 to pick up the squad for Olympic Qualifiers.

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Interestingly, the NADA did not inform the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) about the suspension. It instead intimated the now defunct ad-hoc committee headed by Bhupender Singh Bajwa making the WFI furious, which now has decided to seek an explanation from the NADA and inform the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) about the issue.

Bajrang, who spearheaded a protest against former WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh along with Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik, was handed provisional suspension on April 23 by the NADA and asked to send his reply by May 7 to avoid further disciplinary action.

The trials to pick the men's national team for the Asian Olympic Games Qualifiers in Bishkek were held in Sonepat on March 10. Bajrang had walked off the venue without providing his urine sample after losing his bout. He also did not take part in the bronzemedal play-off.