Can Vinesh Phogat Make a Comeback? WADA Rules on Retired Athletes Raise Eligibility Doubts

Wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s return to competitive wrestling is under uncertainty ahead of the National Open Ranking Tournament in Gonda (May 10–12), amid questions over.

Her compliance with World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules on athletes returning from retirement. Vinesh, who retired after her heartbreak at the 2024 Paris Olympics, had later expressed her intention to resume competition in December last year. She has since entered the 57kg category for the upcoming tournament.

However, her eligibility remains unclear due to provisions under WADA’s Article 5.6.1, which requires athletes in the Registered Testing Pool (RTP) to give six months’ written notice before returning to competition after retirement. The rule ensures athletes are back under anti-doping whereabouts and testing obligations well before resuming events.

The regulation also states that results achieved in violation of this requirement may be disqualified, unless the athlete can prove they could not reasonably have known the event’s competitive status. Athletes may, however, apply for an exemption from the six-month notice period.

Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Sanjay Singh said clarity is still awaited from United World Wrestling (UWW) regarding her status. “As of now, we do not know whether Vinesh has fulfilled the criteria. Only if she is eligible can she compete. We are waiting for confirmation from UWW. If she had sought exemption, we would have been informed,” he said.

Vinesh had previously been part of the RTP during her active career and re-entered the testing pool after resuming training. She had also missed a doping test, recorded as a whereabouts failure. It remains unclear whether she submitted the mandatory six-month notice before entering the Gonda tournament, which falls under the national competition structure.

In terms of selection implications, even a potential victory in Gonda may not help her Asian Games ambitions. Under the WFI’s selection policy announced in February, results from National Open Ranking tournaments will not be considered for Asian Games trials.

Instead, only medalists from the 2025 Senior National Championships, 2026 Federation Cup, and 2026 Under-20 Nationals will qualify for the selection trials scheduled for May 30 (women) and May 31 (men). This effectively limits Vinesh’s immediate pathway to the Asian Games squad, even if she is cleared to compete.