Vinesh Phogat Reaches Gonda as Eligibility Dispute With WFI Intensifies

Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat arrived in Gonda amid an ongoing dispute with the Wrestling Federation of India over her eligibility to return to competitive wrestling. The star wrestler insisted that she had completed all necessary formalities to resume participation in domestic tournaments, while the federation maintained that her response to disciplinary proceedings remained incomplete.

The disagreement is linked to Vinesh’s attempt to compete in the National Open Ranking Tournament. Earlier, the federation declared her temporarily ineligible to participate in domestic competitions until June 26, citing anti-doping regulations related to athletes returning from retirement. According to WFI officials, wrestlers making a comeback must complete a mandatory six-month notice period and remain available for anti-doping testing during that time.

After reaching Ayodhya, Vinesh reportedly submitted a reply to the federation’s show-cause notice. In her response, she argued that the rule being cited by the WFI did not apply to her situation because she had already informed United World Wrestling about her intention to return to the sport months earlier. She claimed that her communication with the international governing body fulfilled the required conditions for a comeback.

However, WFI officials said her reply addressed only the eligibility issue and failed to adequately respond to other disciplinary concerns mentioned in the notice. Federation sources stated that she would not be permitted to compete until a disciplinary hearing is completed and a final decision is made.

The latest disagreement has added to the long-running tensions between Vinesh and the wrestling federation. In recent days, the wrestler publicly accused officials of attempting to prevent her return to competitive wrestling.

The issue has attracted widespread attention because of Vinesh’s high-profile career and her dramatic exit from the sport after the 2024 Olympics. She had earlier announced her retirement following her disqualification from the women’s 50kg final in Paris due to a weight-related issue during the final weigh-in.