Wrestler Vinesh Phogat Approaches Court Of Arbitration For Sport Challenging Disqualification From Paris Olympics

Wrestler Vinesh Phogat has approached the Court of Arbitration For Sport (CAS) challenging her disqualification from the Paris Olympics 2024, before she was set to compete in the Gold medal match against the USA's Sarah Hildebrandt.

According to reports, Phogat was disqualified from competing in the final bout due to being 'overweight' by 100 grams, weighing in at 50.1 kilograms, while competing for the sub-50kg category.

Under the rules set out by United World Wrestling ('UWW'), the international body charged with overseeing wrestling events at the Olympics, wrestlers are weighed on both days when they compete their bouts. Those who fail to make the weight in their category on either day are disqualified and lose their rank in the entire competition. 

Reportedly, while Phogat had made the weight on day one of the competition, she was overweight on the second day, leading to her losing her position in the entire competition, despite having successfully reached the final by defeating all her opponents on day one- when she had made her requisite weight.

This eventually led to the wrestler not even being eligible for a silver medal despite having fairly competed to reach the finals. 

What are the rules under which Phogat was disqualified 

Wrestling events at the Olympics are governed by the UWW, under its International Wrestling Rules ('rules').

An excerpt from Article 11 of Chapter 3 of the International Wrestling Rules by the UWW states: For all competitions, the weigh-in is organized each morning of the concerned weight-category. The weigh-in and the medical control lasts 30 minutes. The second morning of the concerned weight category only the wrestlers who participate in the repechages and finals have to come for the weigh-in. This weigh-in will last 15 minutes. Throughout the entire weigh-in period, wrestlers have the right, each in turn, to get on the scale as many times as they wish.

If an athlete does not attend or fail the weigh-in (the 1st or the 2nd weigh-in), he will be eliminated of the competition and ranked last, without rank. If an athlete is injured during the first day, he doesn't have to attend the second weigh-in and will keep his results. 

It has been reported that on day-2 of the competition, before her final bout, Phogat was unable to reduce her weight beyond 50.1 kgs during the 15 minute period granted under the rules, leading to her disqualification from the entire competition. 

While UWW rules do not prescribe any appellate mechanism against decisions taken in the discharge of obligations under it, Phogat's team have approached the CAS which is the highest adjudicatory body in sport.

What is the Court of Arbitration For Sport (CAS)

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is an independent institution for settlement of sports-related disputes through arbitration or mediation. The CAS was created in 1984 and is placed under the administrative and financial authority of the International Council of Arbitration for Sport (ICAS).

The CAS has two temporary offices in Paris for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. One of them is the CAS Ad Hoc Division, tasked with resolving any legal disputes that arise during the games. Such temporary tribunals have been in place at every edition of the Summer and Winter Olympic Games since 1996, as well as at other major sporting events.

According to reports, the Paris bar has made available four lawyers to represent Phogat before the ad-hoc division of the CAS in Paris, and a hearing is scheduled to be held at 9:30PM IST today, though a verdict make take some time to come.

What arguments have been raised by Phogat's counsel before the CAS

It has been reported that Phogat, through her counsel has argued that while her disqualification occurred on day-2 of the competition due to weighing in at a 100 grams above the permissible weight in her category, she had successfully passed the weighing stage on day-1 of the competition. 

Phogat claims that she could only be disqualified on day-2 of the competition due to being overweight and that the same cannot have any bearing on her results on day-1 of the competition when she had won the round of 16, quarter-final, and semi-final.

It is stated that Phogat's team have pleaded before the CAS to grant her a joint-silver medal by keeping her ranking from day-1 of the competition, since she had fairly won the three bouts on that day, in compliance with all the regulations.

Notably, the UWW rules on the subject have left no room for ambiguity or interpretation as they clearly state that any athlete who does not make weight on both days of the competition would be automatically disqualified and ranked last in the entire competition.

While the hearing before the CAS is yet to commence, a verdict may take a few days to be finalised.

Update: The CAS Ad-Hoc division in Paris has accepted Phogat's appeal. A hearing is likely at 12:30 pm IST on 9th August.

(This is a developing story)