Indian Paralympic badminton champion Pramod Bhagat will not be competing in the Paris 2024 Paralympics. This news comes after the Badminton World Federation (BWF) found him guilty of breaching their anti-doping regulations. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) confirmed the ban on Tuesday, July 29th, 2024.
The decision was based on Bhagat’s failure to provide his whereabouts information to the BWF on three separate occasions within a 12-month period. This violation of the BWF Anti-Doping Regulations led to an 18-month suspension, which will keep Bhagat ineligible to compete until September 1st, 2025. Bhagat initially appealed the decision to the CAS Appeals Division, but his appeal was dismissed.
Bhagat’s absence will be a significant loss for India at the Paris Paralympics. In the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, he made history by winning the gold medal in the men’s singles SL3 category, marking the first time an Indian had won gold in badminton at the Paralympics. This victory established Bhagat as a national hero and an inspiration to countless aspiring athletes.
The BWF’s strict stance on doping violations underscores the importance of upholding fair play and clean sport in international competitions. The decision serves as a reminder to all athletes of their responsibility to comply with the regulations and maintain a high standard of conduct.
