NEW DELHI, Aug 9: The Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) hearing the disqualified Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s appeal to award her a shared silver medal, said on Friday that the decision of the sole arbitrator, Judge Dr Annabelle Bennet, would be announced before the completion of the current Olympic events which is scheduled to end on Sunday.
Senior advocate Harish Salve is representing the Indian Olympic Association before the CAS. Vinesh Phogat was disqualified for over-weighing by 100 grams in her 50 Kgs category on the eve of her final bout against United States’ Sarah Hildebrandt and was told she would not be awarded any medal despite reaching the final. She had defeated defending Olympic champion Yui Susaki the previous day and then proceeded to win the quarter-finals and semi-finals as well.
Her appeal to the CAS seeking a new weigh-in and to be allowed to compete in the final but there was too little time to process a hearing and was rejected. The closing ceremony is on Sunday (August 11, 2024) and medals were already awarded in Phogat’s event.
The president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, shared his views on Phogat’s disqualification and said the IOC would “follow the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s (CAS) decision.”
(Manas Dasgupta)