The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said that it is an athlete’s responsibility to stay within the weight limit but also called the consequences of failing the weigh-in on the second day ‘draconian’ while giving the reasons for rejecting Vinesh Phogat’s appeal.
“The Applicant is an experienced wrestler who had previously competed under the Rules. There is no evidence to the contrary or any evidence by the Athlete that she did not understand the weight requirements.”
“She voluntarily entered the 50 kg category and, from the evidence, undertook a regime to keep within that weight limit. Her evidence was that she did not have sufficient time to complete a weight loss program, not that she somehow found it interfered with her bodily rights.”
“The consequences of the failed second weigh-in, which do not arise from any illegal or wrongful act on the part of the Applicant are, in the opinion of the Sole Arbitrator, draconian.”
“A consequence of elimination without ranking from the round for which the Athlete was found ineligible, having been eligible for the rounds for which she competed, would seem to be a fairer solution. “
Vinesh qualified for the 50kg freestyle gold medal match after victories over Yui Susaki, Oksana Livach and Yusneylys Guzman Lopez but the Indian wrestler was disqualified for being overweight. The United World Wrestling (UWW) rules stated that any wrestler who fails to make weight is completely disqualified and her appeal was also rejected by CAS.
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