Wrestler Bajrang Punia, the Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist, will appeal against Tuesday’s four-year ban slapped by the three-member Anti Doping Disciplinary Panel of the National Anti Doping Agency (NADA).

“The forum, however, is yet to be decided. It could be the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) or the Anti Doping Appeal Panel of NADA,” advocate Vidushpat Singhania, who represented Punia, told The Telegraph on Wednesday.

CAS, based in Lausanne, Switzerland, is an independent institution that
resolves sports-related disputes through arbitration or mediation.

Punia, 30, along with Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat, was one of the faces of the protest against erstwhile Wrestling Federation of India president and BJP leader Brijbhushan Sharan Singh that rocked the capital in the summer of 2023.

“There was no reason for the ban. The panel never gave a chance to Bajrang to speak. The members kept speaking,” an important member of Punia’s team alleged.

Punia had refused to provide his sample for a dope test on March 10 during selection trials for the national team. His contention was that the anti-doping body had used an expired kit in December, leading to a lack of trust. NADA did not buy his argument and asserted that his refusal was deliberate.

“Bajrang definitely has a good defence and therefore a good chance of getting his ban revoked,” Parth Goswami, a sports lawyer who has represented athletes in doping
violation cases, said from New Delhi.

What shocked the wrestling fraternity was the language used by the panel in its 17-page ruling. That raised the question of whether the panel had the jurisdiction to use such language while dealing with a wrestler of international repute who had brought laurels, including an Olympic medal, to the country.

“The athlete’s actions reflect a blatant disregard for established laws, rules, and regulations, driven by an inflated sense of ego, which contravenes (sic) the principles of fair play and sportsmanship. Such conduct, particularly from a prominent figure, undermines the integrity of the sports. Consequently, the Disciplinary Panel has no recourse but to impose sanctions on the athlete in light of his flagrant violation of anti-doping regulations, emphasising the need for strict adherence to the principles of fair play,” the disciplinary panel said in its order.

“This is derogatory, a personal attack. You cannot humiliate a sportsperson of Bajrang’s stature like this. The panel had no business using such language. I feel this should be expunged,” a sports administrator who has been following the case closely said. He spoke under condition of anonymity since he’s not authorised to speak on
the subject.

“He has not used any banned substance. He just refused to give the sample
citing the previous botch-up,” he added.

The panel, comprising Vineet Dhanda, Bikas Medhi and former athlete KM Beenamole, also stated: “The Doping Control Officer’s attempts to conduct the required doping test were met with a similar refusal, exacerbating the situation and setting a detrimental precedent for fellow athletes present at the event.”

Punia and Vinesh Phogat joined the Congress party earlier this year. Punia had campaigned for Vinesh in the build-up to the Haryana Assembly elections.

“It (the ban) is not shocking to me because this issue about trial has been going on for several months. I have said in the past too that I have not refused to give the sample. When they visited my home to conduct the dope test, they came with an expired kit (in December 2023). I have also posted this on social media,” Punia said in Delhi on Wednesday.

“You can’t give an expired kit to any player and as far as I am concerned, my team was there, so they saw it. They came carrying kits dated 2020, 2021, 2022.

“I gave my urine sample but then my team checked the kit and found out that it was expired. So we made a video and emailed it to NADA, informing them about the mistake. But they did not accept their mistake.”

The wrestler alleged the government is getting back at him for the protests against Brijbhushan.

“The government’s motive is to break us, make us bow down to them,” Punia said.

“If I join the BJP, all my bans will be lifted.”

The sarcasm could not be missed.