I never refused to give the sample: Bajrang Punia
After World and Olympic medal-winning wrestler Bajrang Punia’s provisional suspension due to his ‘refusal’ to give his urine sample to the National AntiDoping Agency (NADA) ofcials came to light, the athlete gave his defence while the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) raised a question about it.
The NADA oªcials had approached several wrestlers, including Bajrang, for their samples during the selection trials (for Olympic qualiers) conducted in Sonipat on March 10 by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA)appointed ad-hoc committee, but they could not get Bajrang’s sample.
After 44 days, the NADA sent a letter, dated April 23, to Bajrang saying he had been provisionally suspended for his ‘refusal’ to give his urine sample for dope testing.
Tagging one of his old videos, where he was seen questioning the NADA oªcials why they had brought an outdated kit to collect his sample, Bajrang took to social media X to tell his side of the story.
“I want to clarify about the news coming about me for dope test! I never refused to give the sample to NADA oªcials, I requested them to answer me as to what action they took on the expired kit which they had earlier brought to collect my sample. And then take my dope test. My lawyer Vidush Singhania will reply to this letter in due course of time,” said Bajrang on Sunday.
The WFI questioned why NADA, after taking more than a month to send a notice to the athlete, sent a copy of the notice to the ad-hoc body, which was dissolved on April 18, instead of the federation.