NEW DELHI: Bajrang Punia's wrestling career was dealt a fresh blow as it came to light on Thursday that the Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist has been suspended by the United World Wrestling (UWW) till Dec 31, 2024 for his refusal to submit his urine sample for dope testing during the selection trials for Olympic qualifiers in early March.
UWW, the sport's global governing body, recently updated the data of wrestlers registered with it and Bajrang's profile read 'suspended' for his failure to give his sample to National Anti-Doping Agency's (Nada) dope control officers in Sonepat on March 10.
"Provisionally suspended by NADA IND for alleged ADRV (Anti-Doping Rule Violation). Suspended for the following reason until Dec 31, 2024," read Bajrang's profile.
Bajrang is already undergoing provisional suspension by Nada since April 23 after he was served the ADRV notice and UWW's decision came after it was informed about the same by the country's anti-doping watchdog. Nada had asked the wrestler to reply to its notice by May 7, which has already been filed by his lawyer Vidushpat Singhania.
In its reply, Singhania has contended that expired kits were brought by DCOs for sample collection and that Bajrang never refused to give his sample to Nada officials. "Yes, we have filed our reply with Nada. We have explained the entire situation," Singhania told TOI.
The matter will now be heard by the Nada's Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP) and the panel will decide whether to exonerate Bajrang or ban him after listening to Bajrang and Nada's lawyers.
UWW's suspension has come as another setback for Bajrang who has already been struggling to put his wrestling career back on track after participating in protests against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been accused of sexually harassing six female wrestlers.
With Nada's provisional suspension threatening his Paris hopes, UWW's latest ban could well end his wrestling journey. Since UWW is a World Anti-Doping Agency's (Wada) signatory, Bajrang's suspension will remain in place till the hearing into the matter by ADDP is over and he gets relief.
