Vinesh Phogat’s Olympic Silver Medal Appeal: CAS Verdict Looms
The Paris Olympics may have concluded, but the drama surrounding Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification continues. On Tuesday, August 13, the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) will deliver its verdict on Phogat’s appeal for a joint silver medal.
Phogat’s disqualification stemmed from her failure to meet the weight limit for the women’s 50kg freestyle final. Despite becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to reach an Olympic final, she was barred from competing after being found overweight by 100 grams.
Phogat, backed by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), appealed to the CAS, arguing that the excess weight was due to the distance between the competition venue and the Games Village, as well as the tight schedule between her bouts. They also claimed that the 100-gram weight difference provided no competitive advantage.
However, the United World Wrestling (UWW) has maintained that it adhered to the rules of the competition and that there will be no major overhaul in the weigh-in rules.
Despite the UWW’s stance, a loophole in the rulebook has emerged that Phogat could potentially exploit. According to the rules for the repechage round, athletes who lost to the eventual finalists are eligible for a second chance to compete for the bronze medal. In the women’s 50kg category, Yui Susaki, who lost to Phogat in the opening bout, competed in the repechage round and won a bronze medal.
This raises the question of why Susaki was allowed to compete in the repechage round if Phogat was ranked last following her disqualification. By allowing Susaki to compete, the UWW indirectly indicated that Phogat was a finalist, contradicting their own rules.
Irrespective of the CAS verdict, the case is likely to continue for weeks or months, as either side is expected to re-appeal.