Blame game begins as IOA president PT Usha points fingers at Vinesh Phogat over Paris Games disqualification

The blame game seems to have begun as the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president, PT Usha, has pointed fingers at grappler Vinesh Phogat over her disqualification at the Paris Olympic Games 2024. PT Usha put Vinesh under the bus in response to criticism directed towards the IOA medical team, especially at Chief Medical Officer Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala, saying in combat sports like wrestling, boxing, judo and even weightlifting, the athletes are responsible for their weight management.

Her comments came when Vinesh and the wrestling contingent awaited the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) verdict over her plea. 

After qualifying for the final in the Women’s 50kg Freestyle Wrestling in Paris, Vinesh, on the day of the gold medal match, got disqualified after failing the mandatory weigh-in test in the morning, going overweight by just 100 grams.

She then appealed against this decision at the CAS (for the joint silver medal), with CAS taking time till August 13 before giving their final decision.

The aftermath of this episode turned ugly when a section of Parliament began accusing Dr Pardiwala and his team of negligence; contrary, the former IOA chief Narendra Batra alleged that Vinesh's diet might have led to her disqualification. 

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Besides, Vinesh, who was the helm of the things, hung her boots from wrestling at 29. 

'Players are responsible for their weight management'

"...the responsibility of weight management of athletes in sports like wrestling, weightlifting, boxing and judo is that of each athlete and his or her coach and NOT that of the IOA-appointed Chief Medical Officer Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala and his team. The hate directed at the IOA medical team, especially Dr Pardiwala, is unacceptable and worthy of condemnation," Usha said in a statement.

She continued saying that each athlete has its support staff, with them working together for several years now, and the IOA-appointed medical team, which came to fruition just a few months ago, was there to help players recover and manage injuries.

“Each Indian athlete in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in such sport had his or her own support team. These support teams have been working with the athletes over so many years.

“The IOA appointed a medical team a couple of months ago, primarily as a team that would assist in the recovery and injury management of athletes during and after their competition. This team was also designed to support athletes who did not have their own team of nutritionists and physiotherapists,” PT Usha concluded.

(With inputs from agencies)