New Delhi

The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) has issued a notice to Vinesh Phogat, a former wrestler and politician, regarding a whereabouts failure, requiring her to respond within 14 days. Athletes registered in NADA’s Registered Testing Pool (RTP) must provide their availability for drug testing. If they report their whereabouts but are not available when testing is scheduled, it counts as a failure. Vinesh is included in this RTP.

The notice was sent after Vinesh was unavailable for a doping test on September 9 at her home in Kharkhoda village, Sonepat. This incident follows her participation in the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she reached the finals in the 50 kg category but was disqualified for exceeding the weight limit. Although she appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport for a silver medal, her efforts were unsuccessful, leading to her retirement from wrestling. Shortly after, she joined the Congress party and is campaigning for the Julana assembly seat in Haryana’s upcoming elections on October 5.

The notice from NADA stated that a Dope Control Officer could not find her for the scheduled test. Vinesh must either acknowledge her absence or provide proof that she was present for the allotted time. It’s important to note that a single whereabouts failure does not equate to an anti-doping rule violation; three failures within a year can lead to charges.