Vinesh Phogat's Appeal Against Disqualification Heard by CAS
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) held a three-hour hearing on Friday to consider Vinesh Phogat's appeal against her disqualification from the Olympics. Phogat, an Indian wrestler, participated virtually, presenting her case to the tribunal.
Her disqualification stemmed from exceeding the weight limit by 100 grams during the weigh-in for her gold medal match in the women's 50kg wrestling event on August 7th. Phogat's legal team argued that her weight gain was a natural consequence of her body's recovery process and not a deliberate attempt to gain an unfair advantage. They emphasized her right to manage her body and pointed out that her weight was within the designated limit on the first day of competition.
Represented by renowned attorneys Harish Salve and Vidushpat Singhania, Phogat's team presented their arguments for over an hour. Representatives from the United World Wrestling (UWW) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) also presented their arguments during the hearing.
The CAS is expected to deliver an initial ruling shortly, followed by a comprehensive written decision. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) expressed optimism for a favorable outcome and reiterated its unwavering support for Phogat.
"IOA deems it its duty to back Vinesh and would like to reaffirm its steadfast, unflinching, and unwavering support to her, regardless of the outcome of this matter. We are proud of her countless achievements on the wrestling mat throughout her stellar career," said PT Usha, president of the IOA.
This appeal marks a significant turn of events for Phogat, who initially sought to overturn the disqualification and request a re-weighing to allow her participation in the final. However, due to time constraints, the CAS could not expedite the appeal before the final match between Sarah Hilderbrandt and Yusnelys Guzman.