UWW suspends Bajrang Punia till end of year following NADA’s provisional suspension

The United World Wrestling (UWW) on Thursday took cognisance of the National Anti-Doping Agency’s decision to impose a provisional suspension on wrestler Bajrang Punia for an alleged rule violation.

As per the routine anti-doping process, the world body updated the Tokyo Olympics medallist’s status, saying he was handed a provisional ban until the end of the year even though the duration of the suspension – if at all it stays – isn’t yet decided.

The UWW stated on Bajrang’s profile on its website: “Suspended for the following reason until Dec 31, 2024. Provisionally suspended by NADO IND for alleged ADRV (Anti-Doping Rule Violation).”

मेरे बारे में जो डोप टेस्ट के लिए ख़बर आ रही है उसके लिये मैं स्पष्ट करना चाहता हूँ !!! मैंने कभी भी नाडा अधिकारियों को sample देने से इनकार नहीं किया, मैंने उनसे अनुरोध किया कि वे मुझे जवाब दें कि उन्होंने पहले मेरा sample लेने के लिए जो एक्सपायरी किट लाई थी, उस पर उन्होंने क्या… pic.twitter.com/aU676ADyy3

— Bajrang Punia 🇮🇳 (@BajrangPunia) May 5, 2024

It must be noted that NADA’s panel hearing is yet to take place. Bajrang could be exonerated if the panel is satisfied with his explanation or else he could be punished with a ban of up to two years.

Bajrang has been accused of refusing to provide his urine sample when a dope-control officer from NADA approached him after his bout at the selection trials for the Olympic qualification tournament in March.

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In his reply to NADA, the wrestler has contended that he did not refuse to provide a sample but demanded a reply to his earlier email in which he alleged that the body had sent expired kits to collect his sample last December.

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