Tokyo Olympic Video games bronze medallist wrestler Bajrang Punia has mentioned that the four-year ban imposed on him by the Nationwide Anti-Doping Company (NADA) is the results of “private animosity and a political conspiracy” in opposition to him and accused the nationwide doping physique of “working underneath the federal government’s affect.” Punia has been suspended for 4 years for refusing to supply a urine pattern for anti-doping testing in the course of the trials for the nationwide crew in March 2024. Afterwards, the United World Wrestling (UWW) has additionally put the World and Olympic medallist wrestler underneath suspension till December 31, 2024.
“This four-year ban is the results of private animosity and a political conspiracy in opposition to me. This motion has been taken as revenge for the motion we led in assist of girls wrestlers. In that motion, we raised our voices in opposition to injustice and exploitation,” Punia wrote in an extended submit on X.
“I wish to make it clear that I by no means refused to endure a doping take a look at. When the NADA crew got here to check me, the doping package they’d was expired. This was a critical lapse, and I merely requested that the take a look at be performed with a sound and authorized package. This was important for guaranteeing each my well being and the safety of my profession. Nevertheless, this concern was intentionally used as a weapon in opposition to me,” he added.
The 30-year-old, who was one of many main faces of the wrestlers’ protest in opposition to the then Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, additional accused the WFI and the ruling authorities of conspiring in opposition to him for his involvement within the protests in opposition to its former WFI chief.
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— Bajrang Punia (@BajrangPunia) November 27, 2024
“The BJP authorities and the federation have conspired to lure me and destroy my profession. This resolution isn’t truthful however moderately an try to silence me and different athletes like me,” he wrote.
Earlier this 12 months in July, Punia had additionally accused NADA of concentrating on him for mentioning flaws of their system. “NADA’s actions have confirmed that they haven’t any regard for impartiality. Such establishments are working solely underneath the federal government’s affect. The actual motive behind this ban is to silence me and cease me from elevating my voice in opposition to injustice.
“Let me make it clear that even when I’m suspended for all times, I can’t cease elevating my voice in opposition to injustice. This combat is not only mine; it belongs to each athlete who has been silenced by the system. I’ll enchantment in opposition to this resolution and proceed to combat for my rights till my final breath,” the submit concluded.
Bajrang Punia is one among India’s most embellished wrestlers with a number of medals within the World Championships, Asian Video games, Commonwealth Video games, Asian Championships, and Commonwealth Championships in a decade-long worldwide profession beginning with the 2013 Asian Championships in New Delhi, when he got here into the limelight. He has been awarded the Arjuna Award (2015), Khel Ratna, and Padma Shri in 2019.
In September this 12 months, Punia joined the Indian Nationwide Congress forward of the Haryana Meeting polls together with fellow Olympian Vinesh Phogat, who contested an election from the Jhulana seat and gained.
(Aside from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)
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