'Never refused to give sample for doping': Bajrang Punia releases statement after UWW suspension

Bajrang Punia, one of India’s top wrestlers, has denied claims that he refused to provide his urine sample for doping control. This comes after the United World Wrestling (UWW) on Thursday had suspended Bajrang till 31 December, 2024 for failing to provide his sample. On 23 April, the Haryana-born athlete had been suspended by NADA after he had refused to provide his sample during the Olympic qualifiers selection trials in Sonipat on 10 March.

“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 officials, I merely 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," Bajrang wrote on micro-blogging platform ‘X’ in a lengthy statement.

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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 officials, I merely reminded them that the last two times they came to collect my sample, they had gotten expired kits once…

— Bajrang Punia 🇮🇳 (@BajrangPunia) May 10, 2024

“I then sought an answer from them as the NADA did not provide an answer to any of my communications demanding an explanation for the same and informed them that I would give my sample upon receiving such an explanation from them.

“Not only did the doping control officials refuse to provide an explanation, but they did not provide me with any proof on this instance of them carrying proper equipment and merely left from the venue where I was at, claiming it to be a refusal from my end,” continued the 30 year-old.

“I continued to be at the venue as I had another bout scheduled for 3/4 position. After my semifinal bout, I met the SAI doctor at the venue for treatment regarding a knee injury suffered during the semifinals of the Wrestling Trials.

“I only left the venue about an hour after the alleged doping control officials approached me, contrary to how it has been portrayed that I left immediately. In fact, the dope-controlling officer should have accompanied me till I submitted my medical report to the competition manager as per protocol, rather than leaving in a hurry in the middle of the trials, to record my refusal.

“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 justification.

“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. It is my moral obligation towards the wrestling community and particularly the younger wrestlers, that I exercised here,” Punia ended his message.

According to UWW, Bajrang, a bronze medallist at the Tokyo Olympics, had been provisionally suspended “for alleged anti-doping rule violation (ADRV).”

According to a report in the Times of India, Bajrang has filed a reply to NADA through his counsel Vidushpat Singhania and the matter will be heard by the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel of the NADA. The report adds that the panel would then take the decision whether to exonerate or ban Bajrang after the hearing.