New Delhi: United World Wrestling president Nenad Lalovic expressed disappointment of what happened with Vinesh Phogat after the weigh-in controversy robbed the Indian wrestler of a well-deserved at least silver medal at the Paris Olympics 2024. Having beaten three opponents in a day, Phogat qualified for the final in the women’s 50kg category.
However, on the match day, Phogat was found just 100 grams overweight, thus forcing the organizers to disqualify her. The Indian wrestler later filed an appeal at the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) demanding she be given atleast a silver medal, the results of which are yet to be given
Lalovic opined there isn’t much of a scope for Phogat as the wrestling body was only following the rules. “I am so sorry for what happened, but no matter the size of your country, athletes are athletes. This weigh-in was public, everyone saw what happened. How can we allow someone to compete when we all saw what happened. We don’t have any other choice but to follow our rules,” Lalovic was quoted as saying to NDTV.
“We introduced that rule because of the care for the health of the athletes. Athletes have been obliged to weight rules in order to compete. Maybe some slight adjustments in the rules can be made, but we are not changing the rules. We are counseled and helped by our medical commission. They are absolutely against any change,” he added, ruling out the possibility of a major overhaul in weigh-in rules,” added Lalovic.
Meanwhile, ahe ad-hoc division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will take some more time to deliberate on Vinesh’s appeal against her disqualification from the women’s 50kg free-style final and will announce its decision only on August 13. The much-anticipated verdict on her appeal was earlier due to be announced on Saturday evening.
“The ad-hoc division of CAS has extended time for the Sole Arbitrator Hon. Dr Annabelle Bennett in the Vinesh Phogat vs. United World Wrestling & the International Olympic Committee matter to give a decision till 6-00 p.m. on August 13, 2024,” the IOA statement read.
