Bajrang Punia might be out of the race for the Paris Olympic Qualification
Punjab Newsline, New Delhi, May 5-
Bajrang Punia has been handed a provisional suspension for refusing to give his sample for a dope test during recent trials and the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) is furious that NADA kept it "in dark" on the development and is planning to write to World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on the matter.
Bajrang was handed a provisional suspension on April 23 by National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) and asked to send his reply by May 7 to avoid further disciplinary action. The trials to pick the men's national team for the Asian Olympic Qualifiers in Bishkek were held in Sonepat on March 10 and Bajrang had walked off the venue without providing his urine sample after losing his bout.
Reacting to his suspension, Bajrang said he never refused to provide his sample to NADA officials. "I want to clarify that 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," he wrote on X. "My lawyer Vidush Singhania will reply to this letter," he wrote further.