The Delhi High Court has ordered the Wrestling Federation of India to make a final decision within two weeks regarding a disciplinary show-cause notice issued to wrestler Vinesh Phogat.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma disposed of Phogat’s petition on Monday after the federation’s legal counsel confirmed that her primary grievance about participating in the Asian Games selection trials had become moot. The court instructed the wrestling body to communicate its decision directly to both Phogat and the court once a resolution is reached.
Personal Hearing Guaranteed
During the court proceedings, the counsel representing the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) assured the judge that Phogat would be granted a personal hearing before any final action is taken regarding the notice.
The petition filed by Phogat had also raised broader challenges against the WFI’s selection policies and circulars. While her legal team argued that these regulations presented systemic issues that required judicial review, Justice Sharma clarified that those matters could not be addressed in the current case. The judge stated that the wrestler would need to file a new writ petition to contest those specific policies.
Origin Of The Dispute
The legal conflict stems from a show-cause notice issued by the WFI on May 9. The federation accused Phogat of indiscipline and violating anti-doping regulations, subsequently declaring her ineligible to compete in domestic tournaments until June 26, 2026. The suspension was based on a mandatory six-month notification period required for athletes returning from retirement under anti-doping rules.
In her challenge, Phogat argued that the WFI selection policy, which limited trial eligibility to medalists of specific tournaments, was arbitrary. She asserted that the designated qualification timeline overlapped significantly with her planned sabbatical for pregnancy and postpartum recovery, effectively creating a restrictive and discriminatory barrier to competition.
Separate Disciplinary Notice
Although the court closed the current petition, Phogat’s legal counsel informed the bench that she had recently received another show-cause notice. This fresh notice is related to her conduct during the Asian Games selection trials, which she was ultimately permitted to participate in following previous judicial orders.
