Today, 11th September, The Delhi High Court denied interim relief to wrestler Bajrang Punia in his plea challenging a provisional suspension by NADA. The suspension imposed after Punia allegedly failed to submit a sample for a drug test. Punia claims he is being unfairly targeted by the authorities. The court will continue to hear the case as the investigation proceeds.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued a notice to the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) in response to a petition filed by wrestler Bajrang Punia, challenging the provisional suspension imposed on him for allegedly refusing to submit a sample for dope testing.
Despite a request from Punia’s legal representative, Senior Advocate Rajiv Dutta, for interim relief, Justice Sanjeev Narula declined to issue any immediate orders and scheduled the next hearing for October.
The court orally remarked that,
“Punia should agitate his grievances before the panel”
And scheduled the matter for further hearing in October.
Dutta argued that Punia did not refuse to provide a sample. Instead, he had asked NADA officials to update him on his concerns regarding the use of expired testing kits in previous drug tests.
Senior Advocate Rajiv Dutta, representing Bajrang Punia, stated that Punia is willing to provide his sample immediately and emphasized that missing the upcoming Senior World Wrestling Championships could mark the end of his career.
However, the Bench noted that the petition did not include a request for interim relief.
On the other hand, NADA’s counsel argued that a panel has already been formed to conduct the final hearing on the matter.
The counsel stressed,
“No Olympic-level athlete can refuse a sample when approached by officials.”
NADA’s representative further added,
“We do not wish to put any of our athletes in a difficult position. Punia claims he is being targeted, but this is incorrect. We are actively looking into the issue, and a final hearing is imminent. Litigations like this only disrupt the process. We want him to represent the country.”
Bajrang Punia, a bronze medalist from the Tokyo Olympics, recently joined the Congress party.
Bajrang Punia contested NADA’s June 21, 2024 order, arguing that during the Wrestling Selection Trials in Sonepat, Haryana in April 2024, he was approached by two “alleged doping control officials/chaperones” sent by NADA after his semi-final match.
However, according to Punia, neither official provided proper identification or authorization.
Punia stated,
“He was willing to provide a sample but asked the officials to first address his concerns regarding the use of expired testing kits in December 2023.”
He further argued that the Senior World Wrestling Championships, scheduled to take place from October 28 to October 31 in Albania, would be his last significant competition for the next two years. The provisional suspension.
However, prevents him from participating in the trials and the championship, effectively forcing him into retirement.
His plea stated,
“The Petitioner is suffering through no fault of his own as he is unable to participate and perform due to the arbitrary suspension imposed by the Respondent. It is, in fact, the Respondent’s actions that have hindered the performance of the Petitioner, and the consequences of which the Petitioner is having to bear. The same is unjust, unfair, and a direct violation of the Petitioner’s fundamental rights.”
Additionally, the plea asserted that NADA’s actions amounted to a violation of Punia’s fundamental rights,
“The conduct of the Respondent [NADA], in terms of the official threatening the petitioner against not giving his sample in an expired testing kit and the subsequent non-transparency and suspicious cover-up and inaction on the part of the Respondent, is a clear abuse of authority.”
Senior Advocate Rajiv Dutta, assisted by advocate Neha Singh, represented Punia, with the plea being filed by advocate Vidushpat Singhania from Krida Legal.