The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) on Tuesday suspended Bajrang Punia, a bronze medallist at the Tokyo Games, for four years for violating the anti-doping code. The NADA suspended Punia for refusing to give a sample for a dope test during selection trials in March.
The suspension begins on April 23, 2024. NADA had initially suspended Bajrang on April 23 for the offence, which was also supported by the World Governing body UWW. The World body had also suspended the grappler. Bajrang challenged the provisional suspension, following which the NADA’s Anti-Disciplinary Doping Panel (ADDP) had revoked it on May 31. The revocation was in force until the formal issuance of a notice by NADA on June 23. Bajrang had challenged the charge in writing on July 11.
The hearings on Bajrang's case were done on September 20 and October 4. NADA’s Anti-Disciplinary Doping Panel (ADDP) confirmed the suspension in its order. "The Panel holds that the Athlete is liable for sanctions under Article 10.3.1 and liable for ineligibility for a period of 4 years,” the ADDP said in its order.
"In the present case, since the Athlete had been provisionally suspended, the Panel accordingly holds that the Athlete’s period of his ineligibility for the period of four years shall commence from the date on which the notification was sent, i.e., 23.04.2024.
"Needless to say that on account of the lifting of the provisional suspension for the period from 31.05.2024 to 21.06.2024 shall not be credited into the total period of ineligibility of four years," it added.
Bajrang repeatedly claimed unfair treatment in doping control due to his protest against former WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. He said that he did not refuse to give his sample and sought an explanation from the NADA on the expired kits used for collecting samples last year in December.
NADA had stated that the Chaperone/DCO had told the grappler of the need to provide a urine sample for analysis. Bajrang pointed out mistrust due to NADA's previous conduct.
Bajrang said he wanted to give a sample once the agency addressed concerns about expired kits. However, it said that the refusal was intentional. It emphasised that Bajrang's actions were deliberate and demonstrated a lack of respect for his duties as an athlete under the anti-doping regulations.