The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has released the detailed verdict of the sole arbitrator, Annabelle Bennett, who dismissed Vinesh Phogat’s appeal for a silver medal after her disqualification for being overweight in the weigh-in before the final at the Paris Olympics.
Bennett acknowledged the persuasiveness of the Indian side’s arguments but emphasized that the clear-cut rules left no room for leeway. The rules state that wrestlers must remain eligible throughout the competition, from entry to the finals. Failure to do so results in elimination without ranking.
Vinesh, who won three bouts to reach the final, was marginally overweight at the mandatory second weigh-in the next morning before the gold medal bout. She argued that the excess weight was due to factors such as the menstrual cycle, water retention, and insufficient time to reduce her weight due to travel.
However, Bennett noted that the rules are clear and do not allow for any tolerance. Athletes are responsible for ensuring they remain below the weight limit.
Vinesh’s appeal for a shared silver medal was also dismissed as it was not within the arbitrator’s power. The UWW rules state that once a wrestler becomes ineligible during the competition, the consequences of elimination without ranking apply.
Bennett expressed sympathy for Vinesh’s situation, calling the disqualification rule “draconian.” She suggested that a fairer solution would be to eliminate the wrestler from the round for which they were found ineligible, rather than the entire competition.
The detailed verdict provides insights into the UWW’s weigh-in rules and the consequences of failing to meet the weight limit. It highlights the importance of athletes adhering to the regulations and the challenges they may face in maintaining their weight during competitions.
