Vinesh Phogat disqualification: The final decision regarding Vinesh Phogat’s appeal against her disqualification from the 50 kg wrestling category final could be announced on Saturday, August 10. The President of the Ad-Hoc Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has extended the panel’s deliberation period. The panel now has until 6 PM local time on August 10 to reach a verdict, which corresponds to 9:30 PM IST on Saturday.

Extension of Deliberation Time

Typically, the CAS Ad-Hoc panel is given a 24-hour window to issue a verdict. However, the latest update indicates that this time limit has been extended by a few additional hours. A statement from the CAS read, “By application of Article 18 of the CAS Arbitration Rules for the Olympic Games, the President of the CAS Ad Hoc Division extends the time-limit for the Panel to give a decision until 10 August 2024 at 18h00 (Paris time).”

Friday’s Hearing: Reviewing the Disqualification

On Friday, August 9, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) conducted a three-hour hearing in Paris to assess Vinesh Phogat’s appeal against her disqualification from the Olympics. Vinesh, who participated virtually, presented her case to the court, seeking to overturn the decision. The CAS, an independent body specializing in resolving sports-related disputes, officially registered her appeal and scheduled the hearing for Friday evening.

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Vinesh’s Defense: Weight Limit Exceeded by 100 Grams

Vinesh’s legal team argued that her disqualification was not due to any fraudulent actions but was the result of being 100 grams over the weight limit during the weigh-in before final match for gold medal in the women’s 50kg wrestling category on Wednesday, August 7. Representing Vinesh Phogat were senior counsels Harish Salve and Vidushpat Singhania, both seasoned advocates for athletes. The hearing was overseen by Dr. Annabelle Bennett from Australia, serving as the Sole Arbitrator.

IOA’s Optimism for a Positive Outcome

In a statement on Friday, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) expressed hope for a positive resolution to the matter and extended their gratitude to Senior Advocates Harish Salve and Vidushpat Singhania for representing Vinesh virtually.

Also Read: Paris Olympics 2024: Aman Sehrawat Wins Wrestling Bronze For India, Scripts New Record