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WFI bars Vinesh Phogat from National Open Ranking event, citing ineligibility and pending show cause reply, she alleges a pre planned conspiracy to block her comeback
Vinesh Phogat speaking to media
A defiant Vinesh Phogat’s bid to compete in the National Open Ranking tournament after replying to the WFI’s show-cause notice was categorically rejected by the federation on Monday, sparking a fresh, dramatic confrontation, with the decorated wrestler calling it a “pre-planned conspiracy” to block her comeback.
Vinesh reached the venue and maintained she was eligible to return to competition, even though the federation had declared her ineligible till June 26, 2026, citing the mandatory six-month notice period for athletes returning from retirement under anti-doping rules. However, the federation refused to accept her documents.
“What do you expect me to do? Shall I take sanyaas and stay away? Accept defeat? So that their conspiracy against me succeeds?” Vinesh told reporters after meeting WFI President Sanjay Singh.
“They are not allowing me. They want to see me tried and retired. All I am asking is a fair chance to compete, but they are insisting that I first reply to their notice. This is all a conspiracy,” she added.
Vinesh insisted she had not violated any NADA or WADA rule and had always cleared her dope tests.
“If I had violated any rule, NADA or WADA would have given me a show-cause notice or banned me. Even after that, I underwent doping tests and came clean. I have always been clean in sports. ITA conveyed to me that I am eligible to compete from January 1, 2026.
“They can directly say they don’t want me to play or step on the mat. Instead, they are troubling me so much that I get tired and leave myself,” she said.
Calling the show-cause notice a “pre-planned conspiracy”, she alleged that its timing was deliberately chosen to leave her with minimal legal options before the tournament.
“I got the notice on Friday night. Saturday, I was reducing weight and doing paperwork. They knew exactly when to send the notice, when courts would be closed and when filing would become difficult. This is all pre-planned,” she alleged.
The WFI, however, maintained that she could not take part in the event until the disciplinary proceedings by a panel were completed.
“She only recently said that she plans to compete in Gonda. Before that, we did not know when she would come back. Only when she registered did she come under WFI. So we acted accordingly. She did not reply when I asked why she competed in two weight divisions. She blamed it on the ad-hoc panel. Once she replies and it is a satisfactory reply, we will think about our next move,” said WFI chief, Sanjay Singh.
Vinesh countered that she had informed the WFI on December 12 that she intended to return to the sport.
“Why did you have to wait for six months to give me show cause notice just two days before the competition?” she said.
She has already given a brief reply and will submit a detailed response within the stipulated 14 days.
When the verification process for women began ahead of the competition on Monday, Vinesh arrived with her husband, but her documents were still not accepted.
The two-time World Championships medallist also expressed anger at being branded anti-national during the long wrestlers’ protest against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and his associates.
“I have represented this country in the Olympics, Commonwealth Games and World Championships, and now they are calling me part of the ‘Tukde Tukde gang’. Maybe tomorrow they will call me a terrorist or Khalistani,” she said emotionally.
“I am a respected citizen of this country. The Constitution has given me the right to speak and the right to go anywhere in this country. Sanjay Singh has not given me these rights.”
The most dramatic scenes came after her interaction with the media ended. Looking for a place to train ahead of the women’s weigh-in scheduled between 5 pm and 7 pm on Monday, Vinesh searched for a warm-up area inside the venue but found it locked.
“Ab training bhi nahi kar shakti kya? Lock toh khulwa do kam se kam (I can’t even train now. At least open the lock),” she said in frustration.
She then went to the SAI Khelo India Centre, hoping to find mats to practise on, but none were available there either. At one point, she asked a police officer stationed nearby to help get the facility opened, but he politely said his duty was only to provide security, and he had no authority over the premises.
“We are trying in every way, but they are not letting me wrestle. I came here putting my life and mind at stake,” she said before leaving the venue.
Despite the setback, Vinesh vowed to continue her fight.
“I am working hard, honestly and truthfully. God knows I am clean. If I am right, he will give me strength. We will fight for our rights,” she said.
The federation has sought her explanation on several counts, including her disqualification from the 2024 Paris Games after failing to make weight, alleged whereabouts failures under anti-doping rules, and competing in two weight categories during the March 2024 selection trials conducted by the then IOA-appointed ad-hoc panel.
The women’s competition at the Ranking Tournament is scheduled for Tuesday. Medal winners at the event are expected to get a chance to compete at the World Championship trials later this year, but they will not be allowed to take part in Asian Games trials as per WFI policy.
(With PTI Inputs)
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