Bajrang Punia suspended till 2024 by Global Wrestling Body UWW

The world wrestling governing body United World Wrestling (UWW) has provisionally suspended Tokyo bronze medallist Bajrang Punia till 31st December 2024. The UWW has cited the suspension of Bajrang Punia by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) of India as the reason for the provisional suspension. It puts into jeopardy his participation in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.

What is the Issue behind Bajrang Suspension?

NADA provisionally suspended Bajrang Punia on 23 April 2024 after Bajrang Punia refused to give his sample for an anti-dope test. 

Dope refers to the use of prohibited performance-enhancing drugs taken by athletes. Under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) a sportsman has to give his location to the national anti-doping agencies and sample when demanded.

Bajrang Punia refused to give his sample to NADA during the selection trials held in Sonepat, Haryana, on 10 March 2024. A notice was served on Punia to reply by 7th May 2024 which he failed to reply.. 

If NADA clears Bajrang Punia of all charges, then there is hope that he may still participate in the Paris Olympics, which starts on 26 July 2024. 

About Bajrang Punia and His Achievement 

Bajrang Punia was born into a wrestler family in Jhajjar, Haryana. He was mentored by Olympic medalist Yogeshwar Dutt, who is also from the same state. He has brought many laurels to the country in wrestling.

Some of his prominent achievements are as follows.

He is the first Indian wrestler to be ranked world no.1 and first to win four world championship medals.

He won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

His first significant international success was winning a bronze medal at the  2013 Asian Wrestling Championship in New Delhi.

Medal at the Commonwealth Games 

• Bajrang has won a silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow, Scotland.
• He won a gold medal at the 2016 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
• He won a gold medal at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

Medals at the World Championship 

• He won a bronze medal at the 2013 World Wrestling Championship in Budapest, Hungary.
• He won a silver medal at the 2018 World Wrestling Championship in Budapest, Hungary.
• He won a bronze medal at the world wrestling championship at Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan.
• He won his fourth medal at the 2022 world wrestling championship held in Belgrade, Serbia by winning a bronze medal.

Medals at the  Asian Championship 

• He won a bronze medal at the 2013 Asian Championship held in New Delhi in 2013.
• He won a silver medal at the 2014 Asian Championship in  Astana, Kazakhstan.
• He won a gold medal at the 2017 Asian Championship held in  New Delhi.
• He won a silver medal at the 2021 Asian Championship held at Almaty, Kazakhstan. 

Medals at the Asian Games 

• He won a silver medal at the 2014 Incheon  Asian Games.
• He won a gold medal at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games.

Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award 

Bajrang Punia was awarded India’s highest sports award Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award in 2019.

United World Wrestling (UWW)

The United World Wrestling (UWW) is an international body that governs amateur wrestling in the world. 

It was earlier known as the FILA ( Fédération Internationale des Luttes Associées) or International Federation of Amateur Wrestling.

Headquarters : Corsier-sur-Vevey,Switzerland

President: Nenad Lalović