Wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s eligibility to return to competitive wrestling remains under a cloud ahead of the National Open Ranking Tournament in Gonda amid uncertainty over her compliance with the World Anti-Doping Agency’s mandatory six-month rule for athletes coming out of retirement.
Vinesh announces her retirement from the sport after heartbreak at the 2024 Paris Olympics she expressed her desire to return to the competition in December of last year.
She entered the 57 kg open ranking tournament to be held from May 10 to 12.
However, it remains unclear whether the former World Championship medalist has met the requirement set out in WADA Article 5.6.1, which governs the return of retired athletes to competition.
The rule states that an athlete in the Registered Testing Pool (RTP) – a select group of elite athletes subject to unannounced doping tests – who retires and later wishes to return to active participation must make himself available for testing by giving six months’ written notice to the relevant International Federation and National Anti-Doping Organization.
The provision further states that any competitive result obtained in violation of the rule “shall be disqualified” unless the athlete proves that he “could not reasonably have known” that the competition was at international or national level.
The six-month period is intended to prevent athletes from spending long periods outside the testing system and then returning directly to competition without adequate monitoring.
However, the athlete can request an exception with six months’ notice.
“As of today we don’t know if Vinesh has fulfilled these criteria. If she is eligible then she can compete, otherwise not. We are awaiting confirmation from UWW. If Vinesh were to apply for an exemption, we would be informed by the authorities,” WFI President Sanjay Singh said.
Vinesh has been part of the RTP throughout her active career and re-entered the test pool after deciding to resume training and competition and even missed the test, which the ITA listed as her first residency failure.
It is not known whether she gave the mandatory six-month notice before entering the Gonda event, which falls under the national competition structure.
Vinesh was contacted for comment but her PA said she was busy.
ASIAD OUTSIDE VINESH
Even if Vinesh wins the tournament, the result is unlikely to help fulfill her immediate ambition of making the Indian team for the 2026 Asian Games.
According to the WFI selection policy announced in February this year, performances at the National Open Ranking tournaments will not be considered trials for the Asian Games.
According to these policies, only medal winners from the 2025 Senior National Championship, 2026 Federation Cup and 2026 National Under-20 Championship will be eligible to participate in the Asian Games selection trials to be held on 30 May (Women) and 31 May (Men).
This effectively means that Vinesh will not get the opportunity.
– The end
Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
07 May 2026 21:05 IST
