Athlete responsible to maintain weight, consequence of failed 2nd day weigh-in draconian: CAS

Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) while rejecting wrestler Vinesh Phogat's appeal against her disqualification reasoned that it is an athlete's responsibility to stay within weight-limit and no relief can be provided on that count but termed as "draconian" consequence of failing weigh-in on second day.

Vinesh was disqualified from Paris Olympics after failing to make weight on second day of competition. Scheduled to compete in gold medal bout in women's 50kg category, Vinesh was found overweight by 100g on August 8.

UWW rules state that a wrestler has to clear weigh-in on both days of competition. While UWW allows a 2kg weight tolerance in many international competitions such as Ranking Series event, re is no such buffer at Olympics.

Vinesh h become first Indian woman wrestler to qualify for Olympic final and her disqualification created a flutter in wrestling world, especially after her stunning victory over legendary Yui Susaki, who h not lost a single bout in her international career before bumping into Vinesh.

"..... Sole Arbitrator has concluded that Applicant, of her own free will, entered into 50 kg wrestling category and well knew that this required her to maintain a weight for competition below 50 kg.

"Article 7 of Rules provides, relevantly, that each contestant is deemed to be taking part of her own free will and is responsible for herself and is entitled to compete in only one weight category, one corresponding to her weight at time of official weigh-in," detailed CAS order, which was published on Monday, stated.

" Applicant is an experienced wrestler who h previously competed under Rules. re is no evidence to contrary, or any evidence by Athlete that she did not understand weight requirements.

"She voluntarily entered 50 kg category and, from 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." An -hoc division of CAS h on August 14 rejected her appeal and decision was given after three postponements.

In her appeal, Vinesh h demanded that she be given a joint silver with Cuban wrestler Yusneylis Guzman Lopez, who lost to her in semifinals but was promoted to summit clash following her disqualification.

gold was claimed by American Sarah Ann Hildebrandt.

" consequences of failed second weigh-in, which do not arise from any illegal or wrongful act on part of Applicant are, in opinion of Sole Arbitrator, draconian.

"A consequence of elimination without ranking from round for which Athlete was found ineligible, having been eligible for rounds for which she competed, would seem to be a fairer solution. " Vinesh returned to India on Saturday to a hero's welcome.