Vinesh Phogat has made serious allegations against the Wrestling Federation of India. She expressed her concerns in a lengthy post on X where she stated that the Federation could plot a doping conspiracy against her to put a stop to her Olympic dream.
Vinesh, 29, won bronze in 53kg at the 2019 and 2022 World Championships and gold in 50kg at the 2018 Asian Games. Although she has a lot of laurels to her name, the grappler is yet to bring home an Olympic medal. Phogat is set to attempt booking an Olympic quota in the 50kg category at the Asian qualifiers in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan next week.
Vinesh Phogat’s requests for a personal trainer denied
She also competed in the 53 kg weight category in the selection trials held at Patiala but lost in the semi-finals. The Wrestling Federation of India said it had received Vinesh’s email on March 18 to issue approval letters to coaches and physios. But by then a list of players, coaches and medical staff had been sent to United World Wrestling. The last date of registration was 11th March. An official said the federation sent the entries on March 15 as United World Wrestling had given them a few days’ extra time on their request. The concession was sought as the tests were completed on the last day of the deadline.
In a lengthy post on X, Vinesh wrote, ‘Brijbhushan and his deputy Sanjay Singh are trying their best to prevent me from playing in the Olympics. All the coaches who have been appointed with the team are the favourites of Brijbhushan and his team, so it cannot be denied that they may mix something in the water and make me drink it during my match. If I say that there could be a conspiracy to trap me in doping, then it will not be wrong,
The Asian Olympic qualifying competitions are starting from April 19. For the past one month, I have been requesting the Government of India for the accreditation of my coach and physio to accompany me to the competition area. But, despite repeated requests, I am not getting any concrete answers from anywhere.” A WFI official said, ‘They have no objection to Vinesh going with her personal trainer and physio, but she will be asked to leave United World Wrestling now that the deadline for sending entries has passed. You have to get the identity card yourself.
WFI responds to Vinesh’s accusation
He said, ‘Her mail was primarily directed to the Ad Hoc Panel and CEO of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), although the federation has also been marked. She had sent the application on March 18 but by then the support staff had been registered. “We have not received any instructions from the Ministry or SAI to add the name of Vinesh’s personal trainer to the list as well,” he said. Had such instructions been given, we could have tried. We can send three coaches with ten players. Nine coaches are already in Bishkek for the Asian Championships and the same will remain for the Asian qualifiers which are featuring only five women wrestlers. Are three coaches not enough for five wrestlers?
He said, ‘What is the need for an additional coach? If Vinesh wants a personal trainer, she can get an affiliation from United World Wrestling. We have no objection.’ A WFI source said that World Championship 2019 silver medalist Deepak Punia had also requested to get a private coach. Similarly, Greco-Roman coach Anil Pandit was also requested. They also sent similar emails but we have not received any instructions from the government, he said. Vinesh is not the only one being targeted. Everyone is equal to us.’
Vinesh and WFI have been at loggerheads for a while
Vinesh is one of the three leading wrestlers in the country who led the agitation against former WFI president Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, accusing him of sexually harassing women wrestlers. The Delhi Police registered a case against Brijbhushan but he got bail from a local court in July. Vinesh wrote, ‘Do we have politics before we go to play for the country because we raised our voice against sexual harassment? Is this the punishment for raising voice against wrong in our country? Hope we get justice before going to play for the country.
