NEW DELHI: Barely a week before her highly-anticipated return to competitive wrestling, Vinesh Phogat has been formally warned by the International Testing Agency (ITA) for missing an out-of-competition doping test, marking her first “failure to stay” in 12 months.The development comes as the two-time World Championship medalist and three-time Olympian prepares for the senior open ranking tournament in Gonda from May 10-12 – her first competitive appearance since the Paris Olympics and almost 20 months after retiring. The event, which will be held in the political stronghold of former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, is expected to serve as a key avenue for wrestlers who want to enter the national camp and stake their claim to participate in the upcoming Asian Games trials.
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How Sawan Barwal broke India’s longest running record and still wanted moreAccording to a notification issued by the ITA, the missed test occurred on December 18, 2025 in Bengaluru when the Doping Control Officer (DCO) was unable to locate Vinesh during the stipulated one-hour test period. Athletes listed on the Registry for Testing (RTP) are required to provide a daily 60-minute slot during which they must be available for testing without notice. Failure to do so may result in a location failure.Vinesh was initially informed about missing the test on 5 January 2026 and subsequently provided an explanation on 19 January. She said that on the day of the test, she attended the first winter session of the Haryana Legislative Assembly and traveled from Bengaluru to Chandigarh, disrupting her routine. She also cited personal responsibility after the recent birth of her child.However, ZDP considered her explanation insufficient. In its official announcement, the Anti-Doping Agency emphasized that while it recognized her obligations as an elected representative, the responsibility to remain available and update her whereabouts rests solely with the athlete. The ITA pointed out that Vinesh had several ways to update her location, such as SMS, email or mobile apps, but she did not do so.“The duty is to be available and accessible without prior notice at the stated location. The ITA found that you were unable to demonstrate that no negligent conduct on your part caused or contributed to your failure to update your whereabouts records and you were not available and accessible for testing. Therefore, the ITA has decided to record this missed test. According to the information available to us, this will be the first whereabouts notice that is read since the last whereabouts notice and 12 months against you with TOI.The ITA gave Vinesh seven days to seek an administrative review of the decision. The notice was issued on May 4.Under rules set by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and United World Wrestling (UWW), three failures to locate within a 12-month period constitute an anti-doping rule violation, resulting in a suspension of up to two years. This is Vinesh’s first such failure since her return from retirement in December 2025.Based in Lausanne, the ITA administers anti-doping programs for International Federations (IFs) and Major Event Organizers (MEOs). It works closely with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which ensures compliance with the anti-doping body’s “Code” and related standards.The warning would not constitute a doping violation and will not affect her participation in the Gonda tournament. However, the timing of the announcement added a layer of intrigue ahead of Vinesh’s comeback. He will compete in the 57kg category on the rankings and is expected to face tough competition in his new weight class.Earlier on Sunday, Vinesh sensationally revealed that she was one of the six female wrestlers who accused Brij Bhushan of sexual harassment. She also raised concerns about the fairness and venue of the competition, claiming that it was being held at the Brij Bhushan bastion and an institution associated with it.
