Wrestler Bajrang Punia has been banned for four years. This decision has been taken because he refused to give urine sample. The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) has banned the Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist after the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel found him guilty of violating its Rule 2.3.
India’s Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist wrestler Bajrang Punia was suspended for four years by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) after he refused to submit a sample for doping test on March 10 during the national team selection trials. The decision came after NADA initially suspended Bajrang Punia on April 23 for the same offense, following which he was suspended by the world governing body, UWW. This suspension means that he will not be allowed to participate in competitive wrestling nor will he be allowed to seek coaching opportunities abroad, if he wishes to do so.
Bajrang opposed the suspension
Bajrang initially opposed the suspension, after which on May 31, the NADA Anti-Disciplinary Panel (ADDP) temporarily lifted the suspension until a formal notice of charges was issued. However, then again on June 23, NADA formally informed him of the charges. But Punia filed a challenge against the charges on July 11, which was heard on September 20 and October 4.
Bajrang Punia’s entry into politics
Wrestler Bajrang Punia took over as the working president of the Kisan Congress in the month of October. Earlier, he joined hands with the Congress, entering the political arena with wrestler Vinesh Phogat.
