WFI president Sanjay Singh calls for probe into Vinesh Phogat’s support staff

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president, Sanjay Singh, said an investigation would be initiated regarding Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification from the Paris Olympics, hours ahead of her gold medal bout. Vinesh, who weighed almost 100 grams over the allowed limit, was disqualified from the Paris Olympics. Her semi-final opponent, Cuba’s Yusneylys Guzman, advanced to the final in her place.

According to India Today, Sanjay Singh stressed that the failed weigh-in was not Vinesh Phogat’s fault. It was her support staff, including coach Woller Akos and physio Ashwini Jiwan Patil, who needed to take responsibility for the missed medal. India was anticipating seeing its first female Olympic champion, but those hopes have now vanished.

Questions on her weight category

Vinesh’s usual weight is around 57 kg, but she was competing in the 50 kg category. Before her semi-final match, Vinesh’s weight was precariously close to the threshold at 49.9 kg. Post-match, she weighed 52.7 kg and had to work continuously to reduce it without breaks for food or drink. She only managed to weigh 50.1 kg as the time ran out.

It was Vinesh Phogat’s third Olympic appearance, but her first in the women’s 50 kg category. Previously, the grappler competed in the 53 kg category. However, she had to vacate that weight class after young Antim Panghal secured a quota for India in that category, prompting Vinesh to drop down to 50 kg, where she won India’s selection trials.

What the IOA said

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala released a statement shedding light on the circumstances leading to the disqualification, revealing that wrestlers frequently engage in extreme weight-cutting measures to qualify for lower weight classes, which entail a harsh regimen of calorie restriction, fluid depletion, and strenuous physical activity.