Wrestler Vinesh Phogat has appealed against her disqualification from the wrestling final at the Paris Olympics 2024 with the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS). The move from the Indian wrestler comes after she was not allowed to compete in the finals of the women's 50kg category after missing her weight by just 100 grams. Vinesh, who had won the semi-final bout via a 5-0 margin was the first Indian woman wrestler to qualify for the final in the Olympics.
India Today has learnt that Vinesh asked that she be given the silver medal. CAS has asked till Thursday, 8 August morning to give its final verdict. If CAS rules in Vinesh’s favour IOC will have to award a joint silver to Vinesh.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is an independent institution established in 1984 to facilitate the settlement of sports-related disputes through arbitration or mediation. It is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, and has courts in New York City and Sydney, with temporary courts set up in Olympic host cities.
CAS is independent of any sports organisation and operates under the administrative and financial authority of the International Council of Arbitration for Sport (ICAS). CAS resolves legal disputes in the field of sport through arbitration, pronouncing arbitral awards that have the same enforceability as judgments of ordinary courts. It also provides mediation services to help parties solve disputes amicably.
Arbitration panels typically consist of three arbitrators, with each party choosing one arbitrator and the third being selected by the President of the relevant division. In some cases, a sole arbitrator may be appointed.
The CAS has the final say in many sports disputes, with appeals possible to the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland in certain circumstances. The CAS plays a crucial role in resolving disputes within the international sports community, providing a specialized and efficient forum for the resolution of sports-related disputes
Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the final of the Paris Olympics 50kg category. On the morning of her gold medal bout, Vinesh weighed 50.1kg, just 100 grams over her eligibility criteria. Phogat's disqualification was a major heartbreak to every Indian, who was hoping for their first gold medal in Paris.
Vinesh's heartbreaking exit put focus on weight-cutting techniques in combat sports. It was reported that just a night ahead of her gold medal bout, Vinesh intensely trained to get rid of the 2.7kg that she had gained after the semi-finals. India's Chief Medical Officer Dinshaw Pardiwala revealed that Vinesh had worked tirelessly to shed the weight, which included time at the sauna in the heat of Paris. When everything failed, the coaches tried to cut her hair and shorten her vest to bring her weight down to the eligibility criteria. But they were still not able to reach the 50kg mark, which in turn result in her disqualification.
