Paris Olympics: Court of Arbitration for Sport Rejects Vinesh Phogat’s Appeal for Silver

Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat was disqualified for failing to meet the required weight by approximately 100 grammes.

On August 9, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) registered an application from Phogat, referring the case to arbitrator Dr Annabelle Bennett, a former judge of the Federal Court of Australia.

The CAS in Paris has dismissed Phogat’s appeal for a silver medal in the 50-kilogramme women’s wrestling competition at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

According to a media release from CAS, “The application filed at the CAS Ad hoc Division by Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat (the Applicant) regarding the decision by United World Wrestling (UWW) to replace her due to her failed second weigh-in before the gold medal match of the Women’s Freestyle 50kg competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games has been dismissed. Consequently, the UWW decision is upheld.”

The hearing before Dr Bennett concluded on the same day.
Phogat was set to compete in the final against America’s Sarah Hildebrandt but was disqualified after missing the required weight limit. This decision was made by UWW.

In response to her disqualification, Phogat filed an application on August 7, challenging the UWW’s decision.
According to the CAS press release on August 9, Phogat initially sought to annul the decision, request a new weigh-in before the final, and be declared eligible to compete.

The release added, “The CAS Ad hoc Division procedure is swift, but it was not possible to issue a decision on the merits within an hour, as the Respondent, UWW, needed to be heard first. The procedure is ongoing, and the Applicant has confirmed that she seeks to annul the Challenged Decision and requests to be awarded a (shared) silver medal.”

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