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.
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.
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
Medals at the World Championship
Medals at the Asian Championship
Medals at the Asian Games
Bajrang Punia was awarded India’s highest sports award Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award in 2019.
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