India’s Olympic bronze medal-winning wrestler Bajrang Punia has been banned for four years after allegedly avoiding a doping test. Punia, who was at the forefront of protests against former wrestling body chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, maintains his innocence, claiming he did not refuse testing but was cautious about an expired kit provided by officials. The ban comes after Punia was initially suspended for refusing a urine sample to the national anti-doping agency in March.
The protests led by Punia and other top wrestlers in New Delhi aimed at removing Singh from his position over allegations of misconduct towards female athletes. Singh denied the allegations and accused the wrestlers of conspiring against him. Punia believes that the ban is a form of retaliation from Singh for his participation in the protests. Wrestling is a popular sport in rural northern India, and Punia and fellow protester Vinesh Phogat have since joined the opposition Congress Party.
India has been under scrutiny for doping violations, with the World Anti-Doping Agency reporting the highest number of drug cheats in the world in 2022. Despite countries like China, the United States, and Russia testing more athletes, India was the only country to record over 100 positive results. Punia’s ban raises concerns about the integrity of Indian athletes in international competitions and highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the country’s anti-doping efforts.
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