Bajrang Punia presents his version after being provisionally suspended

On the day reports circulated of Bajrang Punia being provisionally suspended by the National Anti-Doping Agency for refusing to submit a urine sample, he has shared a video of his defence. Punia reportedly refused to present a sample during selection trials in Sonepat on 10 March , which could affect his chances of representing the country at Paris Olympics.

Couple of months ago, Punia had shared a video where he claimed the testers were using expired dope collection kits. As a result, he refused to comply with the dope control officer’s order. He asked NADA officials to respond to his concerns before sharing his sample.

On Sunday, he reposted the video in which he showed kits which had allegedly expired over multiple months in 2023. Punia then said it is not the doctor’s fault but that of the “magarmach” (kingpins) at the top who are trying to pin the blame on others. He further said wrestlers are being bribed, some are being cornered and now some are being cheated with false dope tests by unnamed officials.

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“A girl was being cheated in this manner. She’s only 20-22 years old and is suffering because of this politics. She’s only just come from juniors to seniors, where will she go?,” said Punia in the video.

मेरे बारे में जो डोप टेस्ट के लिए ख़बर आ रही है उसके लिये मैं स्पष्ट करना चाहता हूँ !!! मैंने कभी भी नाडा अधिकारियों को sample देने से इनकार नहीं किया, मैंने उनसे अनुरोध किया कि वे मुझे जवाब दें कि उन्होंने पहले मेरा sample लेने के लिए जो एक्सपायरी किट लाई थी, उस पर उन्होंने क्या… pic.twitter.com/aU676ADyy3

— Bajrang Punia 🇮🇳 (@BajrangPunia) May 5, 2024

The post was shared on X, formerly Twitter, by Punia with the caption, “I want to clarify the news about me being asked to take a dope test!!! I never refused to give my sample to NADA officials, I requested them to first answer me as to what action they took on the expired kit they brought to take my sample and then take my dope test. My lawyer Vidush Singhania will reply to this letter in time.”

Punia had lost the 65kg weight category bout during the trials and Sujeet Kalal is due to represent India at the World Qualifiers for the Paris Olympics to be held from 9 May. Winner of the Olympic quota will have to beat the winner of another national trials to book a ticket to Paris.

The Tokyo Olympics medallist Punia was one of the three key figures in the protests against former Wrestling Federation of India president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been accused of sexual harassment by six women wrestlers.