'Draconian, Didn't Have Sufficient Time': Why CAS Rejected Vinesh's Appeal

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) came up with a detailed ruling after dismissing Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s plea to be awarded a joint silver medal at the ParisParisParis Olympics 2024 in the wrestling 50kg category. The CAS called the second weigh-in in the event as ‘draconian’ but that wasn’t enough to overturn the decision to disqualify Vinesh for being 100gms over the weight limit on the second day of the competition after she had become the first Indian woman wrestler to qualify for the Olympic final.

The UWW rules state that a wrestler has to clear the weigh-in on both days of the competition. While UWW allows a 2kg weight tolerance in many international competitions such as Ranking Series event, there is no such buffer at the Olympics.

“…..the Sole Arbitrator has concluded that the Applicant, of her own free will, entered into the 50 kg wrestling category and well knew that this required her to maintain a weight for competition below 50 kg.