Delhi High Court Seeks NADA's Stand On Wrestler Bajrang Punia's Plea Against Suspension

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought the National Anti-Doping Agency's (NADA) stand on a petition filed by wrestler Bajrang Punia challenging his suspension. As the senior counsel appearing for the athlete pressed for an interim relief while citing the upcoming Senior World Wrestling Championships in Albania, the court said no formal application has been filed for the same. Justice Sanjeev Narula issued a notice to the agency on the plea moved by Punia, who was one of the wrestlers at the forefront of last year's protest at Jantar Mantar demanding the arrest of then Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for the alleged sexual harassment of seven women grapplers.

NADA's counsel said a disciplinary panel has been constituted and it is looking into the issue, adding that a final hearing is "about to happen".

On June 21, NADA imposed a "provisional suspension" on Punia for a second time and issued a formal "notice of charge", rendering him ineligible to train and participate in competitions.

The move came three weeks after an anti-disciplinary doping panel revoked the earlier suspension on the ground that NADA had not issued a "notice of charge" to the wrestler.

NADA had first suspended Punia on April 23 for his refusal to give his urine sample for a dope test during the selection trials held in Sonipat on March 10. The sport's global governing body, United Wrestling World (UWW), had also suspended Punia.

"This is a classic case of how to hound someone.... The world championship is round the corner. I have to participate, I have to practise. They are finishing my career," senior advocate Rajiv Dutta argued in the court on behalf of the wrestler.

During the hearing, Justice Narula questioned