Gonda (Uttar Pradesh): A defiant Vinesh Phogat on Monday alleged that those in power in the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) wanted her to quit the sport, but asserted that she won’t accept defeat and make them succeed in their designs.
Vinesh was declared ineligible to compete in the National Open Ranking tournament here by the WFI until disciplinary proceedings against her are complete. But she arrived here on Monday, insisting that she is eligible to take part in the event.
“What do you expect me to do? Shall I take sanyaas and stay away? Accept defeat? So that their conspiracy against me succeeds? He wants that I leave wrestling, I get tired, I join hands and leave. Sanjay Singh, Brij Bhushan, his team, all those who have control, who have power,” Vinesh told reporters after meeting the WFI officials.
“What do you expect me to do? Shall I take sanyaas and stay away? Accept defeat? So that their conspiracy against me succeeds? He wants that I leave wrestling, I get tired, I join hands and leave. Sanjay Singh, Brij Bhushan, his team, all those who have control, who have power,” Vinesh told reporters after meeting the WFI officials.
The 31-year-old two-time World Championships medallist said she was being punished for raising her voice against the WFI officials.
She said she has given a short reply to the WFI’s show-cause notice and will furnish a detailed one in 14 days.
“I told him (Sanjay Singh) that in 14 days, I will give a detailed reply. But even before that, how can you consider me guilty? At least don’t stop me for 14 days. After that, whatever action you want to take, you do. But he is stuck on that full detailed reply.
“I said I had sent a letter on Dec 12 that I want to return to sport, that I have started training. Then why did you wait for six months? I come for the competition, and then you ban me. You could have told me then only. You were waiting for banning me. This is pre-planned.
“We have already answered the lawyer. We are making another answer, as much as we can tell from our side. But I want to clear the things that were written in it. One was written by WADA.” Asked whether she would move court after the latest developments, she said: “Let’s see. We will try to do what is in our power.” ‘Did not commit any anti-doping violation.’
Vinesh also asserted that she did not commit any anti-doping violations, and said the WADA had given her a go-ahead for her international return.
“I had missed one whereabouts. And there are three of them. Any top athlete can miss it. I had an assembly session. I forgot to update. I even apologized to WADA for that.
“They (WADA) gave me a clean sheet. They told me that I can participate in any international event. And here they (WFI) are saying that they are not satisfied with anything.
“I came to the competition after getting my doping test. I came clean, and I have always been clean. And I am not taking anyone’s rights. I want a fair chance for myself. Because people were saying earlier that I don’t want to give trials. After giving a trial, whatever will be best in India, let it be decided on the mat.” She said she sent the intimation of her desire to return to competition in June last year, and she is now eligible to compete.
“I intimated it in June. Sir, I am starting wrestling again. You can test me. I gave them six months’ time. Now it’s their right when they want to test me.
“Their first testing was missed. But I got the second test. I was told that from 1st of January, 2026, I can participate in international wrestling event. That’s why I did it. I know the rules. I am responsible to WADA.
“I requested them for a break. I was pregnant. They told me whenever I return, I have to inform them if I want to wrestle again. After that, I intimated them.” Immediately after landing at the nearby Ayodhya airport, Vinesh replied to the WFI’s show-cause notice, claiming that Rule 5.6.1 of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code concerning retired athletes does not apply to her as she had already informed United World Wrestling (UWW) in June about her decision to resume competition after retirement.
However, WFI sources said the federation was not satisfied with her reply and felt that the wrestler had addressed only the eligibility aspect while failing to respond comprehensively to the broader disciplinary charges levelled against her in the detailed notice.
