NADA issues whereabouts failure notice to retired wrestler Vinesh Phogat, seeks explanation within 14 days

Renowned Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat, now retired, has been issued a whereabouts failure notice by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA). The agency also seeks clarification within 14 days.

Vinesh had announced her retirement after her disqualification from the Paris Olympics in August. However, she remains a part of NADA's Registered Testing Pool (RTP). Athletes registered under RTP are obligated to provide details of their whereabouts for dope testing to ensure they are available for testing as and when required.

Vinesh Phogat, 29, suffered a disappointing and controversial end to her Paris Olympics 2024 campaign. She was disqualified for being 100 grams overweight before her 50kg category gold medal bout. Following the same, she shared her retirement decision on social media, stating that she lacked the strength to continue in the sport.

Although she announced retirement, the RTP rules are still applicable to Vinesh till the time she remains a part of the pool. The whereabouts failure notice was issued on Wednesday, September 25. The notice states that Vinesh had committed a whereabouts failure as she was not available for a dope test on September 9, which was to take place at her residence in Kharkhoda Village, Sonepat.

As per NADA's regulations, any athlete who fails to be available at the reported location during the scheduled test time is liable for a whereabouts failure.

“You are hereby given a formal notice to notify you about apparent failure to comply with the whereabouts requirements of the ADR, and to invite you to make any comments before we come to a final decision on the matter,” the NADA notice stated, as reported by PTI.

If the athlete fills in the details and is not available at that location during the given time, it is considered a whereabouts failure.

“A Dope Control Officer (DCO) was sent to test you on that day at that time and place. However, he was unable to locate you for testing as you were not available at the given location," the notice added.

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Vinesh Phogat's options and next steps

Vinesh Phogat now has two options in front of her - she can either accept the whereabouts failure or she will have to provide evidence proving she was present at the reported location for the required 60-minute window.

What is important to note is that a single whereabouts failure does not amount to an anti-doping rule violation.

As per NADA's rules, for an athlete to face formal charges, they must accumulate three whereabouts failures (either missed tests or filing failures) in the space of 12 months.

How Vinesh Phogat chooses to respond to NADA's notice will further determine the next steps in the process.