Gaurav Khanna backs "golden boy" Pramod Bhagat, exploring possibilities to appeal following 18-month ban ahead of Paris Paralympics [Exclusive]

Coach Gaurav Khanna has come out in support of para-shuttler Pramod Bhagat who faces an 18-month suspension ahead of the Paris Paralympics.

Bhagat, who won a gold for the Indians at the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics, was found to have breached BWF's anti-doping regulations. He reportedly committed three whereabouts failures within 12 months.

During an exclusive interaction with Sportskeeda, coach Gaurav Khanna called the incident "unfortunate" while stressing that opportunities to appeal against the verdict are being examined.

Khanna referred to Bhagat as "our golden boy" while adding that the 36-year-old who won gold in the men's singles SL3 category in Tokyo remains an asset for the Indian camp.

"This is so unfortunate. Pramod Bhagat is our golden boy and will remain golden for us," Gaurav Khanna stated.

Pramod Bhagat, who was the top seed in Tokyo, defeated Daniel Bethell of Great Britain to clinch the gold medal in a close final. He was also a medal hopeful for the Indians at the upcoming Paris Paralympics as well.

The para-badminton player, who is based in Odisha, was found to have breached a clause that requires players to provide information about their whereabouts to facilitate out-of-competition testing.

"We would see if there is any opportunity to appeal," said coach Gaurav Khanna even as the Indian para-badminton players prepare for the Paralympics in Paris.

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What led to Pramod Bhagat's suspension ahead of the Paris Paralympics?

Bhagat with Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan - Source: PramodBhagat83 on X

Pramod Bhagat will not have the opportunity to defend his Paralympic gold medal as things stand following the 18-month suspension handed out by the Badminton World Federation.

According to a BWF statement, Bhagat was found to have breached the anti-doping regulations on March 1 for committing three whereabouts failures in 12 months.

The star para-shuttler subsequently appealed against the decision but the CAS Appeals Division dismissed the plea on July 29.

"The Badminton World Federation (BWF) can confirm India’s Tokyo 2020 Paralympic champion Pramod Bhagat has been suspended for a period of 18 months and will miss the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games," the BWF statement read.

"On 1 March 2024, the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) Anti-Doping Division found Bhagat in breach of the BWF anti-doping regulations for committing three whereabouts failures within 12 months," the statement added.

"Bhagat, an SL3 athlete appealed this decision to the CAS Appeals Division. On 29 July 2024, the CAS Appeals Division dismissed Bhagat's appeal and confirmed the CAS Anti-Doping Division decision of 1 March 2024. His period of ineligibility is now in effect," the BWF statement confirmed.

Since the "period of ineligibility" is now in effect, Pramod Bhagat will miss the Paris Paralympics pending a further appeal.

One of the criteria for para-badminton athletes to be included on the RTP (Registered Testing Pool) is to be a top-ranked player in the BWF Para badminton World Rankings. Pramod Bhagat is currently ranked as World No. 3 in the MS SL3 BWF world rankings.

The BWF website outlines that players on the RTP need to provide detailed information on where they live, train, and compete, as well as one specific time (between 5 am and 11 pm) and location for each day to be available for testing.

Bhagat, who has overcome a left-leg disability after being afflicted by polio at the age of five, took to badminton as a teenager before inspiring many with his meteoric rise as a para-shuttler on the international stage.