Wrestling Federation of India Bars Vinesh Phogat from Competitions

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has placed restrictions on wrestler Vinesh Phogat, declaring her ineligible to participate in competitions until June 26, 2026. This ruling follows a show-cause notice issued by the federation, citing multiple grounds for the decision.

Vinesh Phogat, a double World Championships medallist, was expected to return to competitive wrestling at the National Open Ranking Tournament scheduled from May 10 to May 12 in Gonda. However, her comeback attempt has been thwarted by the WFI's announcement.

The WFI’s 15-page notice outlines several allegations against Phogat, including her failure to comply with weight regulations during the 2024 Paris Olympics, issues related to anti-doping compliance, and her participation in trials across two weight categories. It is noted that Phogat had informed the world governing body, United World Wrestling (UWW), about her return to competition less than the required six months after her retirement, a stipulation mandated by UWW Anti-Doping regulations.

The notice highlights specific failures, including a lack of adherence to the weight limit whereby Phogat was disqualified during the Olympic event, an incident that detracted from her reputation and caused embarrassment to Indian wrestling.

Additionally, the WFI raised concerns over three instances of missing whereabouts for anti-doping tests. Two such occurrences were reported in 2024, with one on December 18, 2025, shortly after she resumed training, as she targeted participation in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

Phogat has been instructed to respond to the show-cause notice within a 14-day time frame. The federation's statement asserts that they must ensure there are no anti-doping rule violations affecting her eligibility.

This ongoing situation follows a pattern of conflict between Phogat and the WFI, with the wrestler previously alleging that the federation was actively obstructing her return to the sport. Her previous attempts to register for the national ranking championships faced difficulties, with registration issues reportedly resolved only at the last minute.

As conversations about Phogat's future in wrestling continue, her exclusion from competitions highlights the rigorous standards implemented by the WFI. This response from the federation comes as part of broader eligibility criteria that affect wrestlers’ participation based on performances in recent events, effectively sidelining Phogat until her situation is addressed.