Vinesh Phogat Disqualified: Could Injury Withdrawal Have Secured India Silver?

Vinesh Phogat, who heroically guaranteed India a medal on Tuesday at the Paris Olympics, has been disqualified ahead of her Gold medal bout. Phogat could not cut the required weight on time, and thus a billion dreams shattered in the blink of an eye. A row has ensued following Vinesh Phogat's disqualification, and several pressing queries have come in the forefront. Among the many, one that is making waves is, could the Wrestling Federation of India had saved Vinesh from disqualification citing an injury.

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Could Vinesh Phogat Had Secured a Silver Citing Injury?

As per the official statement that announced her disqualification, it was stated that the team did its best to bring Vinesh in the weight bracket. However, efforts failed as she remained a few grams above the 50kg mark. The effort to cut down weight took a toll on Vinesh as she was hospitalized due to dehydration. Thus, the question arises, if she wasn't medically clear, how can they assess her weight? According to weigh-in rules for Olympic wrestling, Article 11 clearly states that if the wrestler is not medically clear then he/she does not have to come for a weigh-in.

Had WFI reported that she was facing a medical issue, she wouldn't have had to deal with a weigh-in, and hence no disqualification would have taken place. Had that happened, would India have secured a silver? The answer to that is no! Failing to attend the weigh-in for any reason would have ultimately led to elimination regardless.

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What does the rule say?

Article 11- Weigh-In

• For all competitions, the weigh-in is organized each morning of the concerned weight-category. The weigh-in and the medical control lasts 30 minutes.
• The second morning of the concerned weight category only the wrestlers who participate in the repechages and finals have to come for the weigh-in. This weigh-in will last 15 minutes.
• No wrestler may be accepted at the weigh-in if he has not undergone a medical examination the first morning. Wrestlers must appear at the medical examination and the weigh-in with their license and accreditation.
• The only uniform allowed for the weigh-in is the singlet. After having been examined by qualified physicians who are obliged to eliminate any wrestler who presents any danger of contagious disease, the wrestler can be weighed-in. No weight tolerance will be allowed for the singlet.
• Contestants must be in perfect physical condition, with their fingernails cut very short.
• Throughout the entire weigh-in period, wrestlers have the right, each in turn, to get on the scale as many times as they wish.
• The referees responsible for the weigh-in must check that all wrestlers are of the weight corresponding to the category in which they are entered for the competition, that they fulfil all the requirements of Article 5 and to inform any wrestler of the risk he runs if he presents himself on the mat in incorrect dress. Referees will refuse to weigh a wrestler who is not dressed correctly.
• The referees responsible for the weigh-in will received the results of the draw and will be allowed to control only the athletes who are on this list.
• If an athlete does not attend or fail the weigh-in (the 1st or the 2nd weigh-in), he will be eliminated of the competition and ranked last, without rank (Exception: cf. Article 56 - Medical Service Intervention).