The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has once again delayed its ruling on Vinesh Phogat’s appeal, marking the third extension in the matter. Phogat, who was disqualified from the Paris Olympics, had originally sought to be awarded a joint silver medal in the women’s 50kg category.
On Tuesday, CAS announced via an official press release that the verdict would be further postponed, in response to Phogat and the Indian Olympic Association’s (IOA) challenge against the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and United World Wrestling’s decision.
The CAS ad-hoc division stated, “By application of Article 18 of the CAS Arbitration Rules for the Olympic Games, the President of the CAS Ad Hoc Division extends the time-limit for the Panel to give a decision until 16 August 2024 at 18h00 (Paris time).”
What is Article 18?
Article 18 stipulates that during the Olympic Games (OG), the CAS Panel must issue a decision within 24 hours of the conclusion of the hearing or, if no hearing is held, within 24 hours of the conclusion of evidentiary proceedings, subject to Article 20.
In exceptional circumstances, this time limit can be extended by the President or Deputy President of the CAS Ad Hoc Division. Outside of the OG period, the Panel is required to issue a decision within a reasonable timeframe.
What did Vinesh Phogat say in her appeal?
In her appeal, Vinesh initially requested the CAS ad-hoc bench to overturn the IOC’s disqualification, allowing her a re-weigh-in and an opportunity to compete in the final. However, she did not request urgent interim measures.
While the ad-hoc bench of CAS delivered a swift ruling, it was unable to hear the parties involved before the final, which was scheduled for Thursday evening.
Vinesh subsequently made it clear in her appeal that she wanted her disqualification reversed and to be awarded a joint silver medal. Despite this, United World Wrestling President Nenad Lalovic expressed empathy for Vinesh but maintained that the rules had been correctly followed in her disqualification.
As the verdict was delayed, IOA President PT Usha defended Chief Medical Officer Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala, who faced scrutiny on social media after Vinesh missed the weight on the day of her final.
Usha emphasized that it was the athlete and her coaches’ responsibility to ensure she made weight. Meanwhile, concerns were raised about the fairness of two-day weigh-ins at the Olympic Games.
American wrestling legend Jordan Burroughs called on United World Wrestling to reconsider its rules, advocating for a 1kg weight allowance for the second day’s weigh-in. He also suggested that both semi-finalists should be awarded Olympic medals, instead of following the repechage format that offers wrestlers who lost to eventual finalists a second chance.
