Vinesh Phogat has made it clear that she is not ready to step away from her ongoing confrontation.
With the Wrestling Federation of India after the federation denied her entry into the National Open Ranking tournament over alleged anti-doping compliance issues. The Olympic wrestler posted a cryptic message on X on Saturday, May 9, suggesting she would continue her fight despite the latest setback surrounding her return to competitive wrestling.
“Life is stuck in a deep whirlpool. The world keeps searching for flaws in my character. But life has always taught me to walk with my head held high. No sword has the power to make it bow,” Vinesh wrote in Hindi.
Her post came shortly after the WFI, led by Sanjay Singh, declared her ineligible to compete at the upcoming event in Gonda. The federation claimed Vinesh had not completed the mandatory six-month notice period required under international anti-doping regulations for athletes returning from retirement.
The ruling has postponed the comeback plans of the two-time World Championships medallist, who had hoped to return to action at the National Open Ranking tournament beginning Sunday. Vinesh had retired from wrestling in 2024 after the heartbreak of being disqualified ahead of the gold medal bout at the Paris Olympics 2024.
In a strongly worded 15-page notice issued earlier this week, the WFI accused Vinesh of damaging the reputation of Indian wrestling during the Paris Olympics controversy. The federation also alleged that she violated provisions of the WFI Constitution, international wrestling rules and anti-doping guidelines.
The standoff between both sides has intensified in recent days, with Vinesh accusing the federation of deliberately trying to block her return to the sport. She also reiterated that she remains one of the six complainants in the sexual harassment case involving former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
The federation, however, insisted that rules laid down by the World Anti-Doping Agency must be followed strictly and maintained that the responsibility of proving eligibility lies with the athlete.
“We have to see if WADA rules have been followed properly. It has not yet been proved that she has fulfilled the requirements for coming back from retirement. She has to complete the mandatory six-month notice period before she becomes eligible to compete again,” Sanjay Singh told PTI.
Earlier this month, Vinesh had alleged in a video message that she was forced to reveal her identity publicly despite legal protections for complainants in sexual harassment cases. She further claimed that efforts were being made to derail her comeback before the 2026 Asian Games and confirmed that testimonies in the criminal case against Brij Bhushan are still being recorded.
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