Vinesh Phogat clears World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) retirement rules, but Asian Games dream now looks over the line

New Delhi: Vinesh Fugat Sources close to the wrestler say she complied with the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) requirement that athletes give six months’ notice after retiring, although new controversy continues to cast a shadow over her return to competitive wrestling.Push boundaries with our YouTube channel. Subscribe now!Vinesh, who changed her decision to retire in December 2025, will compete in the 57kg category of the Senior Open Ranking Series in Gonda from May 10 to 12. However, her return has been mired in controversy over portal registration issues, failed out-of-competition testing and questions about her eligibility under World Anti-Doping Agency rules.

The latest hurdle involves Article 5.6.1 of the WADA Anti-Doping Code, which requires athletes in the Registered Testing Pool (RTP) to provide six months’ written notice to international federations and national anti-doping agencies before resuming competition after retirement.The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has asked the World Wrestling Federation to clarify whether Vinesh followed the rules before announcing his comeback.“If she is eligible, then she can compete, otherwise she cannot compete. If Vinesh seeks exemption, the authorities will inform us,” WFI President Sanjay Singh explain.However, sources close to the wrestler told TOI that Vinesh had officially informed WADA and UWW in June 2025 of her intention to return later this year and submitted the required Form 1 as per clause 5.6.1.“If this was not the case, how did the ITA anti-doping team come to Bengaluru in December 2025 to collect Vinesh’s sample on the instructions of the UWW?” the source asked. “The doping test took place six months after she complied with WADA’s six-month notification rule in June 2025.”However, despite clearing the qualification hurdle, Vinesh’s hopes of representing India in the upcoming Asian Games remain slim. As per the WFI’s selection policy, only medalists from the 2025 senior national team, 2026 Fed Cup and 2026 under-20 national team can participate in the Asian Games selection trials later this month, effectively closing the door for Vinesh regardless of her performance in Gonda.