Vinesh Phogat (Photo by ANI) Vinesh Phogat has reacted strongly to the announcement by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) insisting that she is fully fit to return to competitive wrestling, rejecting several claims by the federation regarding schedules and rule violations.
Statement by Vinesh Phogat
In her detailed statement, Vinesh confirmed receipt of the notice dated 09.05.2026 and said she would formally respond after consulting her legal team. However, she also addressed the matter publicly, saying that there was a misunderstanding regarding her return timetable.She stated that “the WFI misinterpreted the timelines of my time off from the sport and my subsequent return to training and competition.” She further clarified that, contrary to the federation’s claim that she would only be eligible from 26 June 2026, “I was deemed fit to return to official training and competition on 1 January 2026.”Vinesh added that she has “official clearance from the International Testing Agency (ITA)” and is therefore eligible to compete in the ongoing Senior Open Ranking Tournament 2026 in Gonda. She confirmed, “I intend to participate in the tournament and mark my return to the mat in a competitive event.”In response to the anti-doping allegations, it said the whereabouts failure and missed test cited by the WFI did not constitute violations, saying they “do not constitute anti-doping rule violations under the 2021 National Anti-Doping Rules or the 2021 WADA Code.”She also dismissed claims regarding participation in multiple weight categories in the 2024 selection trials, saying, “The Ad-Hoc Committee governing the WFI at that time was well aware of my participation and raised no objection.”Adding that she will file a detailed reply within 14 days, Vinesh said, “I will prove my innocence and continue my preparations as I get closer to returning to the competition.”However, the WFI says she remains ineligible until June 26, 2026 due to retirement regulations after returning under the anti-doping rules. She also flagged issues including her disqualification at Paris 2024 after missing weight and alleged procedural breaches.Vinesh, meanwhile, is adamant that she has complied with all international requirements, including notifying United World Wrestling (UWW) of her return in advance, as required by rules for retired athletes.
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