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Vinesh Phogat questions WFI disciplinary action as seeks stand by
The on Tuesday directed the to clarify its position on Olympian Vinesh Phogat’s challenge to two show-cause notices and the ensuing that she alleges have unfairly obstructed her return to competitive wrestling after maternity. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, while refraining from issuing a at this stage, asked the WFI’s counsel to obtain instructions and listed the matter for further consideration on .
Phogat’s petition, filed through advocates, contends that the show-cause notices dated and form part of a “continuing course of exercise of disciplinary powers” by the federation. The notices, she argues, have created a “” to her participation in elite competitions and could prejudice her eligibility, nomination, and participation in upcoming events.
Background: Maternity Return and ITA Clearance
At the heart of the dispute lies Phogat’s attempt to resume wrestling after giving birth. According to her petition, the confirmed in a communication dated , that she would be eligible to compete from . Despite meeting the requirements for her return, Phogat claims that the WFI subsequently adopted an eligibility framework that effectively excluded her from the selection process. She alleges that the federation relied on performances in tournaments held during her maternity period, penalising her for an absence beyond her control.
First : Legal Grounds Questioned
The first , issued on , pertains to an alleged and her participation in two weight categories during the Selection Trials. Phogat challenges the legal basis of this notice on multiple grounds. She asserts that the notice relies on the superseded , and references a “” that, according to her, does not exist in the current framework. Furthermore, she argues that the alleged whereabouts failure does not meet the elements required for an Article 2.4 violation under the .
Phogat also emphasises that her participation in both weight categories was expressly permitted by the . The issue had previously reached the in connection with the first notice, and a made significant observations regarding the notice and the WFI’s actions before allowing her to participate in the Asian Games Selection Trials.
Second and Disciplinary Process Under Fire
The second , dated , was issued after Phogat’s conduct during the Selection Trials on . She describes the allegations in this notice as “vague and insufficiently particularised.” In her detailed response of , she provided her version of events and pointed to similar incidents involving other wrestlers during the same trials, alleging that disciplinary standards are being applied selectively against her.
Phogat has also raised serious concerns about the constitution of the . She claims that despite repeated requests, the federation initially withheld the committee’s composition. According to her petition, details were uploaded on WFI’s website only on , after she raised objections, and even then, the composition was not contained in any formal order, resolution, or other official document. She questions the authority under which the committee was constituted and alleges that no material has been supplied to establish when or pursuant to what decision it came into existence.
The cumulative effect of these circumstances, Phogat argues, has created a to her return to elite competition. She seeks the quashing of both show-cause notices and all consequential .
Separate Plea for Maternity-Friendly Wrestling Framework
In a related development, the High Court also heard a separate petition filed by Phogat seeking directions to the WFI, the , and the to formulate a fair, transparent, and structured framework for women athletes returning to competitive sport after pregnancy, childbirth, and post-partum recovery.
Drawing on her own experience, Phogat contends that athletes returning after maternity should not be disadvantaged because they were unable to compete during pregnancy and recovery. She alleges that the current eligibility framework relies on performances in tournaments held during her maternity period, effectively penalising her for an absence beyond her control. On this petition, Justice Sharma issued notice to all three respondents, and the matter has been listed for hearing in .
Legal Implications for Sports Governance
The case raises fundamental questions about the exercise of disciplinary power by sports federations in India. Phogat’s challenge underscores the tension between a federation’s autonomy and the rights of athletes to . By questioning the constitution of the Disciplinary Committee and the reliance on outdated rules, the petition invites the court to scrutinise whether the WFI’s actions are consistent with .
Legal experts note that the outcome could have far-reaching implications for how sports bodies handle athlete discipline, particularly in cases involving maternity return. The separate petition for a maternity-friendly framework also signals a growing recognition of the need for structural reforms to support women athletes. The ’s eventual ruling may set a precedent for balancing federations’ regulatory powers with athletes’ fundamental rights.
Conclusion: A Test of Administrative Fairness
As the matter awaits its next hearing on , the wrestling community and sports law observers will be watching closely. Vinesh Phogat’s challenge is not merely a personal grievance; it is a test of whether sports federations can act arbitrarily without accountability. The court’s decision to seek the WFI’s stand without issuing suggests a cautious approach, but the substantive arguments raised—spanning outdated rules, , and opaque committees—could compel a broader reckoning with governance standards in Indian sports.
