Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat's pursuit of an Olympic silver medal remains alive as the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has confirmed that a decision on her appeal will be made before the conclusion of the Paris Olympics 2024. This development comes after Phogat was disqualified from competing in the women's 50kg final due to a weigh-in discrepancy, where she was found to be overweight by just 100 grams.
Phogat, who had been ruled out of the gold medal bout because of this disqualification, subsequently filed an appeal with CAS in an effort to overturn the decision. Senior advocate Haris Salve has taken up her case, agreeing to represent her during the CAS hearing.
The CAS has acknowledged receiving Phogat’s appeal but made it clear that it cannot reinstate her for the gold medal match or authorize a second weigh-in. Instead, the court is considering the possibility of awarding her a joint silver medal. According to an official statement, CAS is expediting the appeal process to ensure a decision is made before the end of the Paris Olympics.
The controversy began when Phogat, a strong contender for gold, was replaced by United World Wrestling (UWW) before the final match due to her failure to meet the weight requirement. Phogat's appeal, filed on August 7, 2024, challenges this decision, arguing that the ruling was overly punitive for a minor infraction. Initially, Phogat had sought to annul the UWW decision and requested a new weigh-in that would allow her to compete in the final. However, she did not request urgent interim measures, which meant that the CAS could not issue a ruling on the matter within the short time frame leading up to the final match.
The CAS statement, issued on Friday, detailed the ongoing process. "An application was filed at the CAS Ad hoc Division at 16:45 CEST on 7 August 2024 by Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat (the Applicant) in relation to the decision taken by United World Wrestling (UWW) to replace her, because of her failed second weigh-in, before the gold medal match of the Women's Freestyle 50kg competition at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 that was due to commence at 18:15 CEST the same day (the Challenged Decision)."
Court of Arbitration for Sports says, the decision on #VineshPhogat's plea against her disqualification is expected to be issued before the end of the #OlympicGames pic.twitter.com/19bTf1yCkP
— cliQ India (@cliQIndiaMedia) August 9, 2024
The statement further explained that although Phogat initially sought to annul the UWW's decision and requested a new weigh-in before the final match, the CAS procedure could not be expedited quickly enough to meet that request. "The CAS Ad hoc Division procedure is fast, but it was not possible for a decision on the merits to be issued within an hour, bearing in mind that the Respondent UWW would have had to be heard first."
Phogat has since modified her appeal, now focusing on the possibility of being awarded a shared silver medal instead of pursuing a spot in the final. The case has been assigned to the Hon. Dr. Annabelle Bennett AC SC (AUS), who is serving as the Sole Arbitrator. Dr. Bennett is expected to hold a hearing with the involved parties and make a decision before the Olympic Games conclude.
As the legal proceedings continue, Vinesh Phogat's chances of securing an Olympic medal remain intact. The wrestling community and her supporters are now awaiting the final decision from CAS, which will determine whether Phogat will be awarded a joint silver medal in recognition of her efforts and to rectify what she and her legal team consider an overly harsh penalty for a minor weight infraction.
This case not only highlights the intense scrutiny athletes undergo during the Olympics but also underscores the complexities of legal disputes in high-stakes sporting events. As the Paris Olympics progress, Phogat’s situation has captured international attention, with many hoping for a favorable outcome that honors her skill and perseverance on the world stage.