Vinesh Phogat Disqualification Case Verdict Time: The ad hoc division of the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) will give its verdict on the appeal of Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat on Saturday at 6 pm local time (9.30 pm Indian time) in Paris. The hearing of the case ended on Friday in which CAS accepted Vinesh’s appeal. Vinesh had appealed against her disqualification on the morning of the final for being 100 grams overweight.
“Pursuant to the application of Article 18 of the CAS Arbitration Rules relating to the Olympic Games, the President of the CAS Ad Hoc Division has called on the Panel to render a decision by 18:00 Paris time on 10 August 2024,” a CAS statement said. The ad-hoc division created specifically for dispute resolution during the Olympics had said a decision could be expected before the conclusion of the Paris Games on Sunday.
After the hearing, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Friday said that it is hopeful of a positive decision. “The Indian Olympic Association is hopeful of a positive resolution to the application filed by wrestler Vinesh Phogat before the Ad Hoc Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against her failure to weigh in,” the IOA said in a statement. ‘Since the matter is still sub-judice, the IOA can only say that the sole arbitrator, Dr Annabel Bennett AC (Australia), listened to all parties Vinesh Phogat, United World Wrestling, International Olympic Committee and IOA for approximately three hours.’
IOA President P T Usha thanked Harish Salve, Singhania and the Krida legal team for their cooperation and arguments during the hearing. Cuban wrestler Yusnelis Guzman Lopez entered the final in place of Vinesh, who had lost to her in the semi-finals. In his appeal, the Indian wrestler has sought to be awarded a joint silver medal with Lopez as his weight was within the prescribed limit during his bout on Tuesday. Vinesh’s side was presented by well-known senior advocates Harish Salve and Vidushpat Singhania.
