Olympic wrestler Vinesh Phogat rebuffed recent media reports on Thursday, dismissing claims that she had evaded a dope test following the trials. Moreover, she questioned the validity of criticisms regarding her qualification for the Asian Olympic Qualifiers in the women's 50kg category due to her participation in two weight categories.
Taking to social media, Vinesh issued a statement refuting allegations of skipping a dope test. "Contrary to circulating rumors, I want to clarify that I, like all other finalists, underwent doping tests after both the senior nationals last month and the recent trials," she clarified.
In addition, she criticized certain media outlets for spreading what she termed as "defamatory information" regarding her qualification status. According to Vinesh, Article 7 of the United World Wrestling regulations, which restricts contestants to compete in only one weight category, is being misinterpreted by some media to question her involvement in both the 50kg and 53kg categories during the trials. She asserted that this rule applies solely to competitions and not to trials, a clarification affirmed by the ad-hoc committee and officials.
Vinesh defended her decision to compete in two weight categories during the trials, citing the uncertainty surrounding the qualification pathway for the 53kg category due to disputes between the ad-hoc committee and WFI. She highlighted the resultant instability in the rules governing future competitions in India, prompting her to secure her Olympic Games path by participating in both categories.
Despite facing criticism and uncertainties, Vinesh reaffirmed her commitment to fair competition and the integrity of the sport. "Despite the challenges and pressures I've encountered, I remain steadfast in upholding the values of fair play," she expressed.
Expressing gratitude to her supporters, she called for a fair and transparent resolution to the ongoing issues surrounding her participation in the trials.
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