NEW DELHI, May 9 — Vinesh Phogat’s return to the mat has been delayed after the Wrestling Federation of India issued a notice declaring her ineligible for all domestic events through late June. The decision prevents the veteran wrestler from participating in the National Open Ranking Tournament scheduled to begin tomorrow in Gonda.
The WFI declared that Phogat is currently in violation of anti-doping protocols concerning the required cooling-off period for retired athletes. According to the federation, the wrestler did not complete the six-month notification process mandated by international standards before seeking a return to active competition.
In its detailed communication, the federation affirmed that the wrestler faces scrutiny over her disqualification at the Paris Olympics and previous selection trial conduct. The notice asserted that these actions have damaged the image of the sport and violated the WFI Constitution. Officials stated that the investigation will look into alleged whereabouts failures, which are critical components of anti-doping compliance.
The federation maintained that the suspension is necessary to ensure all representing athletes are in full compliance with international wrestling rules. Phogat now has a two-week window to respond to the allegations before the governing body determines further action. Until the June 26 deadline passes or the investigation concludes, she will remain sidelined from all sanctioned domestic matches, the federation affirmed.
