New Delhi, May 09 — The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) on Saturday issued a show-cause notice to wrestler Vinesh Phogat and declared her ineligible to participate in domestic competitions till June 26, citing alleged indiscipline and anti-doping rule violations.
The federation said Phogat had failed to complete the mandatory six-month notice period required for wrestlers returning from retirement under United World Wrestling (UWW) Anti-Doping Rules.
In a 15-page notice, the WFI accused the Olympian of conduct that allegedly brought “national embarrassment” and violated provisions of the WFI Constitution, UWW International Wrestling Rules and anti-doping regulations.
The federation has sought her response within 14 days.
WFI said Phogat would not be eligible to compete in any domestic event till June 26, including the National Open Ranking Tournament in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, scheduled from May 10 to 12, which was expected to mark her return to competition.
“The Federation must satisfy itself that you have not committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation that would render you ineligible to represent the Federation in any forthcoming competition,” the notice stated.
The notice also referred to her disqualification from the 2024 Paris Olympics after failing to make weight, alleged whereabouts failures under anti-doping regulations, and her participation in two weight categories during the March 2024 selection trials conducted by the then IOA-appointed ad-hoc panel.
The development comes days after Phogat publicly said she did not feel safe competing in Gonda, alleging the venue remained under the influence of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Earlier this week, Phogat revealed that she was one of the six women wrestlers who had filed sexual harassment complaints against Brij Bhushan. She said she had been “forced” to publicly identify herself because the ranking tournament was being held in Gonda, considered the former WFI chief’s stronghold.
The sexual harassment allegations against Brij Bhushan first surfaced during the wrestlers’ protest at Jantar Mantar in 2023, led by several top Indian wrestlers, including Phogat. Legal proceedings in the case are still underway, while Brij Bhushan has denied the allegations against him.
Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh was removed from the post of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief after the sexual harassment allegations surfaced and protests by top wrestlers intensified in 2023. The Union Sports Ministry suspended the WFI executive body and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) appointed an ad-hoc committee to run the federation.
However, the situation later became contentious after Sanjay Singh, considered a close aide of Brij Bhushan, was elected WFI president in December 2023. Several protesting wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik, alleged that Brij Bhushan continued to wield influence over the federation despite no longer officially heading it.
The Sports Ministry subsequently suspended the newly-elected WFI body, citing concerns that the federation remained under the “control of former office bearers.”
Legally, Brij Bhushan still faces trial in the case filed by six adult women wrestlers accusing him of sexual harassment and stalking. A separate POCSO case involving a minor complainant was closed after the complainant withdrew allegations and police filed a closure report.