NEW DELHI: Ace wrestler and Olympic bronze medallist Bajrang Punia on Wednesday said that the decision by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) to ban him was a retaliatory move by the government, claiming it would be reversed if he joined the BJP.
Punia has been suspended for four years by NADA for allegedly refusing to provide a sample for a dope test during national team selection trials on March 10 this year. NADA had first suspended him on April 23, and the sport’s world body, United World Wrestling (UWW), also imposed a suspension.
However, Bajrang denied refusing the dope test and said, “I have said in the past too that I have not refused to give a sample to NADA. When they visited my home to conduct the dope test, they came with an expiry kit (in December 2023). I have also posted this on social media.”
Bajrang, who joined the Congress Party along with wrestler Vinesh Phogat earlier this year, explained that expired kits were provided during the test. He said, “You can’t give expiry kit to any player, and as far as I am concerned, my team was there, so they saw it. They came carrying expiry kits dated 2020, 2021, 2022. I gave my urine sample, but then my team checked the kit and found out that it was expired. So we made a video of the kit and we mailed NADA, and called them to inform about the mistake. But they did not accept their mistake.”
Bajrang alleged that the suspension is linked to his participation in protests against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, a BJP politician and former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president, for alleged sexual assault against women wrestlers. He said, “I also feel that because of our protest in support of the women wrestlers, they are trying to exact revenge because all the agencies fall under the purview of the government.”
He added, “I have been competing for the last 10-12 years and I have given samples during all tournaments, during the India camps. But the government’s motive is to break us, make us bow down to them. If I join the BJP then I think all my bans will be lifted.”
Bajrang’s suspension prevents him from competing or applying for coaching roles abroad until April 22, 2028.
