IOA’s CAS submission reveals Vinesh Phogat’s pre-menstrual phase, weighing machine glitch as reasons for disqualification
The Court of Arbitration for Sport’s (CAS) ad-hoc committee in Paris for the Olympics has released a 24-page document detailing its verdict in Vinesh Phogat’s appeal. In the verdict, the reasons Thcited by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has been revealed.
In the appeal for a joint silver medal in the 50-kg wrestling event, the IOA mentioned that Vinesh engaged in three bouts on August 6, and needed to eat and drink for her health. Also there was short time between bouts, and the distance between the venue and the Games Village gave Vinesh very little time for the process of losing weight before the second weigh-in the following morning” which somehow triggered her to gain weight. Additionally, the IOA produced a medical certificate “dated 8 August 2024” stating Vinesh was in her pre-menstrual phase and cited medical literature on body weight changes during menstruation.
To this, the CAS said that the evidence regarding the effects of the menstrual cycle does not distinguish between the first weigh-in, when she was compliant, and the second weigh-in, when she was not. While it may be the case that the Athlete experienced some bloating and water retention, this is unquantified and, as a condition that may occur during the menstrual cycle, would be expected to be a factor that was mitigated against to ensure that the Athlete remained below the weight limit.
Furthermore, the IOA asserted that the weighing machine when empty showed a measurement of 50g. To this CAS mentioned that it was apparent from the Athlete’s evidence that she did understand the need to weigh-in at under 50 kg and that she made efforts to do so, both before presenting for the second weigh-in and on the occasion of the second weigh-in during the 15 minutes available to her to repeat the standing on the scales.
It is worth mentioning here that Vinesh lost the chance to fight for the gold medal after she was disqualified for being overweight in the morning weigh-in following her stupendous performance on when she stunned the hitherto unbeaten Yui Susaki of Japan in her first bout.