Bajrang Punia moves Delhi High Court requesting quashing of provisional suspension by NADA

Bajrang has also requested the court to initiate an independent investigation into the attempt to use expired kits for sample collection in December last year.

File photo: NADA, on April 23, suspended Tokyo Games bronze medallist wrestler for refusal to give his urine sample for dope test during the selection trials held in Sonepat on March 10.  | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini/The Hindu

Wrestler Bajrang Punia has approached the Delhi High Court, seeking to overturn the provisional suspension imposed on him by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) for refusing to provide a urine sample during the National selection trials in Sonipat on March 10.

NADA had suspended the Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist on April 23 for his refusal to comply with the dope test at the selection trials. The global wrestling body, UWW, had also imposed a suspension on him. Bajrang had previously challenged this provisional suspension, leading to the NADA Anti-Disciplinary Doping Panel (ADDP) revoking it on May 31, pending NADA’s issuance of a formal notice of charge.

In response, NADA served Bajrang with the notice in June 2024.

“This serves as a formal notice that you are being charged with the violation of Article 2.3 of the National Anti-Doping Rules, 2021 and now you are provisionally suspended,” said NADA’s communication to Bajrang.

In a writ petition, Bajrang has now requested the court to treat his fresh request urgently as the elite World wrestling Championships will be held in Tirana, Albania, from October 28 to 31 and the provisional suspension shall prevent him from competing in the event, “owing to which the petitioner shall be forced to retire...”

Bajrang has also requested the court to initiate an independent investigation into the attempt to use expired kits for sample collection in December last year.

(with inputs from PTI)