Olympics 2024: C.A.S. Rejects Vinesh Phogat’s Appeal

By Mohd. Sahil Khan 5 Minutes Read

The Court of Arbitration for Sports (C.A.S.) has pronounced its final ruling on Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification case, dismissing her appeal for a joint silver medal. Vinesh Phogat had filed an appeal before the C.A.S. on the 7th of August.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (C.A.S.) has already postponed its decision on Vinesh Phogat’s case three times. Another delay was announced on Tuesday, pushing the decision date to August 16th. Surprisingly, the final ruling was released a day after this postponement was announced.

Main issue

• Vinesh Phogat, the renowned Indian woman wrestler, was disqualified ahead of her championship match in the 50 kg weight division.
  
• The wrestler’s disqualification from her final match resulted from being found 100 grams overweight on the day of the event.
  
• Vinesh appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (C.A.S.) on 7^th August to award her joint silver medal.

C.A.S. verdict

• C.A.S. has dismissed Vinesh Phogat’s petition to confer her with the joint silver medal.
  
• “The application filed by Vinesh Phogat on 7 August 2024 is dismissed,” the operative part of the C.A.S. decision read.
  
• In a formal statement, the Indian Olympic Association (I.O.A.) affirmed its support for Phogat and is considering legal avenues to ensure the wrestler’s case is adequately addressed.
  
• PT Usha, the association’s president, has voiced dissatisfaction with the Sole Arbitrator’s ruling.
  
• The decision has sparked reactions on social media, with some expressing disappointment and others supporting Vinesh in her tough time.

Timeline of events

• August 6: Vinesh Phogat won significantly over her Cuban counterpart in the women’s 50 kg freestyle wrestling competition.
  
• August 7: Vinesh Phogat was slightly overweight when first weighed in for the 50kg category. Despite attempts to lose weight, she was still 100 grams over the limit at the second weigh-in.
  
  This resulted in her disqualification according to the competition rules. The Wrestling Federation of India immediately appealed the decision to United World Wrestling (U.W.W.), the event’s governing body.
  
  Vinesh also filed a separate appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (C.A.S.), requesting a shared silver medal with Cuba’s Guzman, who replaced her in the final.
  
• August 8: Vinesh Phogat announced her retirement from a successful wrestling career after the disappointing events at the Paris Olympics.
  
• August 9: The Court of Arbitration for Sport (C.A.S.) heard Vinesh Phogat’s appeal in Paris.
  
• August 10: The C.A.S. postponed its decision on Vinesh Phogat’s appeal and set a new deadline of August 13th.
  
• August 13: The Indian Olympic Association (I.O.A.) announced that the Court of Arbitration for Sport (C.A.S.) has again delayed its ruling on Vinesh Phogat’s appeal. The final decision was deemed to be announced on August 16th.
  
• August 14: The Court of Arbitration for Sport denied Vinesh Phogat’s challenge to disqualify her from the Paris Olympics wrestling final.

The C.A.S.’s decision has abruptly shattered Vinesh Phogat’s Olympic dream. The controversy surrounding the weight issue and the outcome of the appeal raise serious questions about the sport’s regulations and the athletes’ welfare.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (C.A.S) is an international institution established to resolve legal disputes related to sports. It operates independently, providing a specialized forum where athletes, sports organizations, and other stakeholders can settle disputes either through standard arbitration or by hearing appeals against decisions made by sports organizations. CAS handles a wide range of issues, including doping violations, contract disputes, eligibility matters, and appeals against decisions made by sports governing bodies.

Mohd. Sahil Khan