File image: Vinesh Phogat (PTI Photo) Vinesh Phogat arrived in Gonda on Monday and reiterated that she is fit to return to competition despite an ongoing dispute with the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), which says the star wrestler cannot compete in the national open until disciplinary proceedings against her are concluded.According to a PTI report, Vinesh immediately reacted to the show-cause notice issued by the WFI after landing in Ayodhya, claiming that Rule 5.6.1 of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code relating to retired athletes did not apply to her case.The wrestler claimed that she had already informed United World Wrestling (UWW) in June of her intention to continue competing after her retirement and had therefore completed the required procedures for a return.
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WFI was not convinced by Vinesh’s reply
However, WFI sources told PTI that the federation was not satisfied with the explanation given by Vinesh.“The response is not enough. She has not responded to the entire show cause notice. Until a disciplinary hearing is held and the matter is decided, she cannot be allowed to compete,” a WFI source told PTI.The federation had earlier declared Vinesh ineligible for domestic events until June 26, 2026, citing the mandatory six-month notice period associated with retired athletes returning under anti-doping regulations.The controversy intensified after the WFI, in a strongly worded notice, accused Vinesh of indiscipline, violation of federation rules and procedural errors related to anti-doping.The retirement line adds further confusionVinesh announced her retirement following the heartbreak of her disqualification ahead of the women’s 50kg gold medal bout at the 2024 Paris Olympics.While her husband recently claimed that she never officially retired and only posted about it on social media, the WFI insisted that the UWW announced in December 2024 that Vinesh had informed the International Testing Agency (ITA) of her retirement.However, Vinesh continues to claim that she later informed the UWW about the reversal of this decision and is therefore eligible to compete in Gonda.The women’s weigh-in is scheduled for Monday between 5 and 7 p.m., the competition will start on Tuesday.
