Wrestler Bajrang issues another clari cation
Wrestler Bajrang Punia on Friday took to his social media handle on ‘X’ to further clarify as to why he did not give a sample to the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) o«cials during the selection trials in Sonipat on March 10.
Bajrang, who has been suspended by United World Wrestling (UWW) until December 31, on the basis of the provisional suspension imposed by NADA,
again claimed that he had not refused to give his sample.
“This is to clarify that I have at no stage refused to give my sample for doping control. On 10 March 2024, when I was approached by alleged doping control o«cials, I reminded them that the last two times they came to collect my sample, they had gotten expired kits once and on the other instance, they had approached me with a single testing kit as opposed to the three testing kits.
“I then sought an answer from them as the NADA did not provide an answer and informed them that I would give my sample upon receiving such explanation from them,” Bajrang said. “The doping control o«cials did not provide me any proof on this instance of them carrying proper equipment and merely left from the venue where I was at. I continued to be at the venue as I had another bout scheduled for 3/4 position. After my seminal bout, I met the SAI doctor at the venue for treatment. I only left the venue about an hour after the alleged doping control o«cials approached me, contrary to how it has been portrayed that I left immediately. “The dope controlling o«cer should have accompanied me till I submitted my medical report to the competition manager as per protocol. Even if this incident is treated as refusal, the fact that it was due to NADA using expired kits and not providing an explanation for using them, or giving me comfort, that they had not carried expired kits again, should be considered as a compelling justication. I took such a stance solely because of the NADAs actions in the past, which, in the absence of an explanation, could continue a dangerous trend of the use of expired kits or non-compliance with doping control protocol.”