WFI issues notice to Vinesh banning her from participating in Gonda ranking series

New Delhi: Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) on Saturday banned star wrestlers Vinesh Fugat She was banned from the Senior Open Ranking Series in Gonda starting on May 10, issued a 15-page show-cause notice on multiple disciplinary and anti-doping-related charges, and effectively delayed her return to international wrestling nearly 20 months after retiring after the Paris Olympics.The federation said Vinesh remains ineligible to compete in any WFI competitions and events until May 26, 2026, citing violations of World Wrestling Federation (UWW) rules related to retirement and return to competition.In the notice, the WFI accused the wrestler of multiple violations, including violation of whereabouts submission requirements under the 2015 UWW Anti-Doping Rules, disciplinary violations and conduct “prejudicial to the interests of the sport of wrestling and WFI.”The charges against Vinesh include her failure to make weight for the Paris Olympics, leading to her disqualification, alleged breach of WFI charter, anti-doping rule violation due to whereabouts failure, and alleged violation of UWW competition rules by competing in both the 50kg and 53kg categories at the trials at NIS Patiala on March 11, 2024.The federation also mentioned a missed inspection date dated December 18, 2025, notified by an international testing agency.The Indian Wrestling Federation said, “The Indian Wrestling Federation has issued a show-cause notice to Vinesh Phogat. She has been sanctioned for multiple offences, including violation of World Wrestling Federation’s whereabouts submission requirements and Article 5.7 of the UWW Anti-Doping Rules 2015 regarding retirement and return to competition, serious disciplinary breaches and conduct prejudicial to the interests of the sport of wrestling and WFI.”The WFI further said, “Based on the records available to the federation, public reports, reasoned rulings of the Ad Hoc Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) dated August 14-16, 2024, and communications on record, the WFI has reason to believe that prima facie your actions and omissions have seriously damaged the discipline, image, reputation and interests of the WFI, the Indian Wrestling Fraternity and the Indian Wrestling Federation. This is in violation of the WFI Constitution, the UWW International Wrestling Rules and Regulations 2021 National Anti-Doping Rules.“The notice gave Vinesh 14 days from May 9, 2026, to explain why no disciplinary action should be taken against her.“Pending your response to be submitted and considered, as per your letter/email dated December 12, 2025, your six-month minimum requirement has not expired and, therefore, you are not eligible to participate in any WFI competitions and events until May 26, 2026, including your ineligibility to participate in the Nandini Nagar, Gonda from May 10 to 12 senior open ranking series and any other upcoming competitions and events, national rankings, selections and international competitions, in the wider interest of the sport and the federation,” the notice added.The development comes as a major setback for Vinesh, who had been hoping for a competitive comeback after announcing her retirement following a dramatic disqualification at the Paris Olympics despite reaching the women’s 50kg final.