Court of Arbitration for Sport Hears Vinesh Phogat's Appeal Against Olympic Disqualification

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Court of Arbitration for Sport Hears Vinesh Phogat's Appeal Against Olympic Disqualification

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) recently conducted a three-hour hearing to address Vinesh Phogat's appeal following her disqualification from the Olympics for being 100 grams over the weight limit during the weigh-in for her gold medal match in the women’s 50kg wrestling event. Phogat, though absent in person, virtually participated in the proceedings where her legal team contended that her weight gain was due to her body's recovery process and should not be considered a deliberate violation of the rules.

Phogat's representatives, including prominent attorneys Harish Salve and Vidushpat Singhania, emphasized her right to manage her body and insisted that her weight was initially within the designated limit at the start of the competition. Dr. Annabelle Bennett from Australia served as the Sole Arbitrator overseeing the case, which has attracted significant attention in light of the ongoing Paris Olympics. During the hearing, both Phogat's lawyers and representatives from the United World Wrestling (UWW) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) presented their arguments for over an hour each.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) voiced optimism for a favorable outcome and acknowledged the legal team's efforts on behalf of Vinesh Phogat. President PT Usha reiterated the IOA's unwavering support for the wrestler, regardless of the ultimate ruling, praising Phogat's remarkable career achievements. Despite Phogat's desire to contest the disqualification and seek a re-weighing for potential participation in the final match, the time constraints prevented the CAS from expediting the appeal before the final took place.