No tolerance: CAS unveils why Vinesh Phogat's appeal was denied

New Delhi: The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has firmly rejected Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat's appeal against her disqualification from the Paris Olympics final. On August 14, an ad-hoc division of the CAS dismissed Phogat's challenge following her disqualification for being 100 grams overweight. The CAS released a detailed explanation on Monday, clarifying the reasons behind their decision.

No tolerance for weight limit breaches

According to CAS, the rules governing weight limits in wrestling are uncompromising. "Athletes must ensure they remain below the specified weight limit. There is no provision for exceptions or tolerance, even for the weight of the singlet," the CAS stated. The rules apply uniformly to all competitors, and the responsibility falls solely on the athlete to meet these criteria.

BREAKING CAS gives a detailed 24 page judgment on the @Phogat_Vinesh case. @RevSportzGlobal pic.twitter.com/NSJlL9dbhb

— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) August 19, 2024

Heartbreaking disqualification before Olympics final 

Phogat's disqualification occurred on the morning of the women's 50kg freestyle final. Despite her claims that the 100-gram excess was minor and could be attributed to factors like water retention or the pre-menstrual phase, the CAS maintained that the weight limit rules are absolute.

Phogat, 29, had argued that she should be awarded a joint silver medal alongside Cuban wrestler Yusneylis Guzman Lopez, who advanced to the final due to Phogat's disqualification. The gold medal was claimed by American Sarah Ann Hildebrandt. The decision on Phogat's appeal came after multiple delays, highlighting the complexity of the case.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) expressed strong discontent with the ruling, reflecting the emotional impact of Phogat's disqualification on the Indian sporting community.