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Days after Vinesh Phogat alleged lack of support from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) during her appeal against disqualification from the Paris Olympics, senior lawyer Harish Salve revealed that the former wrestler had chosen not to challenge the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) verdict. The CAS had upheld the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) decision to disqualify Phogat and rejected her appeal for a joint silver medal in the women's 50kg wrestling category.
Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the final of the women’s freestyle 50kg wrestling event after being found 100g over the permissible weight limit on the day of the final.
As a result, Phogat was eliminated from the competition and relegated to the last spot. Upset by the decision, she appealed to the CAS, and Harish Salve represented her on behalf of the national Olympic body.
However, after a week-long hearing, the ruling did not go in Phogat’s favour, and she returned from Paris empty-handed. The appeal against the disqualification was filed at the CAS by French pro bono lawyers in Paris.
Recently, the Haryana-born wrestler made pointed remarks against IOA President PT Usha, accusing the organisation of a lack of support and coordination. Phogat also expressed her frustration over the leniency from her legal team, which she believes cost her the chance to win a medal.
In response to her allegations, Salve clarified the proceedings and highlighted the lack of coordination from Phogat’s legal representation.
“There was a complete lack of coordination, lack of cohesion for quite some time initially. That’s because the very good law firm which had been engaged by the Indian Olympic Association was told by some lawyers who the athlete had engaged that ‘we will not share anything with you, we will not give anything to you. It was very late we got everything,” Salve told TimesNow.
Salve stated that they fought the case vigorously and even offered Phogat the option to appeal the CAS verdict in the Swiss Court. However, she chose not to pursue it any further.
“Later on, we got everything and we fought hard. In fact, I even offered that lady that maybe we can challenge it in the Swiss court of appeal against the arbitration award but I was told by the lawyers that my impression is she didn’t want to carry this any further,” he added.
A day after her disqualification from the Games, Phogat announced her retirement from wrestling. She ventured into politics last week, joining the Indian National Congress ahead of the Haryana Assembly Elections.
