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UWW says Vinesh Phogat officially retired in December 2024 and must observe a six month testing rule to return
![Vinesh Phogat [AP Photo]](https://images.news18.com/ibnlive/uploads/2021/07/1627283897_news18_logo-1200x800.jpg?impolicy=website&width=400&height=225 "Vinesh Phogat [AP Photo]"){kind=logo}
Vinesh Phogat [AP Photo]
The controversy around Vinesh Phogat’s comeback has intensified after a fresh communication from United World Wrestling (UWW) confirmed that she had officially informed the International Testing Agency (ITA) about her retirement in December 2024.
This comes even as her husband, Sombir Rathi, claimed that she had not formally announced retirement and had only posted about it on social media.
However, an email sent by the UWW Anti-Doping department to Vinesh on December 20, 2024, stated, “We have taken due note of your retirement, which was communicated to the International Testing Agency (ITA) on the 20.12.2024.”
The communication also confirmed that she had been removed from the Registered Testing Pool and no longer needed to submit whereabouts details. It further stated that if she wished to return, she “shall not compete in International Events or National Events” until she fulfilled the six-month prior notice requirement for testing, as per Article 5.6.1 of the World Anti-Doping Code.
As per World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules, any result achieved in violation of this clause “shall be disqualified” unless the athlete can prove they “could not have reasonably known” the event’s status. The six-month rule is meant to ensure athletes do not stay outside the testing pool and return without proper monitoring.
Vinesh had announced her comeback on December 12 but missed an anti-doping test on December 18, which was recorded by the ITA as her first whereabouts failure in a 12-month cycle. Three such failures can lead to a ban.
WFI did not change criteria
The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has rejected claims that it altered its selection criteria to block Vinesh’s return. WFI president Sanjay Singh said, “The narrative that WFI changed the selection policy to stop Vinesh is completely wrong. We had informed the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Sports Ministry about the criteria back in February itself. The National Open Ranking tournament was not listed, and we have retained the same policy now as well.”
The federation maintained that the same criteria remain in place for selection.
No-show at U23 Asian wrestling means missing Asiad trials
In a May 6 circular, WFI warned that wrestlers selected for the U23 Asian Championship in Vietnam must participate in the event. Any withdrawal will lead to exclusion from Asian Games trials.
“It has come to the notice of the Federation that some selected wrestlers are attempting to withdraw their names from participating in the above championships. At this stage, it is not possible to make any amendment or replacement in the Indian squad, already finalised and submitted.”
“…..Any wrestler who withdraws… shall not be permitted to participate in the selection trials for the forthcoming Asian Games.”
No camp, no trials
The WFI also made it clear that wrestlers who do not join the national camp after selection will not be allowed to take part in the trials. All chief coaches have been asked to submit attendance reports of each wrestler.
The women’s trials will be held on May 30 in Delhi, while the men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman trials are scheduled for May 31 in Lucknow.
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