The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) has issued a notice to Vinesh Phogat, the renowned wrestler who recently transitioned into politics, for a whereabouts failure. This notice, demanding an explanation within 14 days, comes at a time when Vinesh is actively campaigning for the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections.
Vinesh, known for her impressive wrestling career, announced her retirement from the sport in August after being disqualified from the Paris Olympics due to being overweight. She had expressed her decision via social media, citing a lack of strength to continue. However, her involvement in the political arena hasn’t shielded her from the stringent anti-doping regulations.
Under NADA’s Registered Testing Pool (RTP), athletes are obligated to provide details regarding their availability for dope tests. Failure to be present at the designated time and location constitutes a whereabouts failure. The NADA’s notice alleges that Vinesh was unavailable for a dope test on September 9th at her residence in Kharkhoda village, Sonepat.
Vinesh has been actively campaigning in the Julana constituency since joining the Congress party alongside fellow wrestler Bajrang Punia. The notice, served by NADA, emphasizes the importance of adhering to anti-doping protocols, stating, “You are hereby given a formal notice to notify you about apparent failure to comply with the whereabouts requirements of the ADR, and to invite you to make any comments before we come to a final decision on the matter.”
The notice further details that a Dope Control Officer (DCO) was sent to test Vinesh on that particular date and time, but was unable to locate her. Vinesh now has the opportunity to either acknowledge the whereabouts failure or provide evidence demonstrating her presence at the specified location for at least 60 minutes.
It’s crucial to note that a single whereabouts failure doesn’t automatically constitute an anti-doping rule violation. However, accumulating three such instances within a 12-month period can lead to NADA taking disciplinary action against the athlete. This situation throws light on the complexities faced by athletes navigating both sporting and political arenas, highlighting the importance of adhering to strict anti-doping rules.
