CAS Upholds Vinesh Phogat's Disqualification at Paris Olympics, Rejects Appeal for Silver Medal, Terms Rules 'Draconian'

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New Delhi, Aug 19: The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has made a decisive ruling that reaffirms the strict weight regulations in Olympic wrestling, following the disqualification of Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat from the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The CAS dismissed Phogat's appeal for a silver medal after she was disqualified from the final for being 100 grams overweight, a ruling that has stirred considerable debate within the Indian sports community.

The CAS ruling, published on August 19, made it clear that no exceptions could be granted for athletes who exceed the designated weight limits, regardless of the circumstances. The court emphasised that the rules are unequivocal, setting an upper weight limit that must be adhered to without exception. This includes the consideration of factors such as water retention or the menstrual cycle, which Phogat had cited as reasons for her minor weight excess.

"The problem for the Athlete is that the Rules are clear as to the weight limit and are the same for all participants. There is no tolerance provided for-it is an upper limit. It does not even allow for the weight of the singlet. It is clearly up to an athlete to ensure that they remain below that limit," the CAS decision stated.

Phogat's Appeal and CAS's Rejection

Vinesh Phogat's disqualification came on the morning of the women's 50kg freestyle final, a heartbreaking moment for the 29-year-old wrestler who was poised to compete for an Olympic medal.

Her appeal to the CAS sought a reconsideration of the disqualification, arguing that the slight weight excess should be tolerable due to physiological factors like water retention during the pre-menstrual phase.

Phogat requested that she be awarded a joint silver medal along with Cuban wrestler Yusneylis Guzman Lopez, who was promoted to the final after Phogat's disqualification. The gold medal was ultimately claimed by American wrestler Sarah Ann Hildebrandt.

The CAS, however, stood firm in its ruling. It highlighted that the rules under which Phogat was disqualified are designed to ensure fairness and consistency across the competition.

The CAS rejected the notion that personal circumstances could justify a deviation from these rules, stating that "the Rules reflect a UWW policy that a wrestler must not only be eligible at the beginning of a competition but must also remain eligible for the whole of the competition, that is, from entry to the finals."

While answering if the consequences of the failed weigh-in be considered for proportionality, the CAS statement said, "The consequences of the failed second weigh-in, which do not arise from any illegal or wrongful act on the part of the Applicant are, in the opinion of the Sole Arbitrator, draconian.

"A consequence of elimination without ranking from the round for which the Athlete was found ineligible, having been eligible for the rounds for which she competed, would seem to be a fairer solution. However, it bears repeating that neither the formation or validity of UWW policy is before the Sole Arbitrator and there is no evidence or submission as to the reasons for such policy."

The verdict further read, "Article 11 does not provide for a sanction for wrongdoing. It provides for the consequences of ineligibility. Neither Article 11 nor the Rules provide for any mitigation of the consequences of a failed weigh-in, nor for any discretion in their application. In the case of a sanction, there is frequently allowance for the application of discretion and questions of proportionality. That is not the case here. In some cases, the rules of federations provide for flexibility or discretion. For example, in CAS OG 24/05-06-07, the rules allowed for "truly exceptional circumstances". In the present case, there is no discretion provided."

The CAS ruling underscores the rigidity of international sports regulations, especially in weight-class sports like wrestling, where even the slightest deviation can lead to disqualification. Phogat's appeal was met with three postponements before the final decision was rendered, reflecting the complexity and sensitivity of the case.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) had expressed its displeasure at the disqualification, viewing it as a harsh penalty for an athlete who had performed exceptionally throughout the competition. However, the CAS's detailed explanation leaves little room for interpretation-athletes must remain within the prescribed weight limits, with no allowances made for personal or physiological factors.