PT Usha defends IOA medical team in Vinesh Phogat case
PT Usha, the Indian Olympic Association president, opened up on the disqualification of wrestler Vinesh Phogat from the 2024 Paris Olympics over weight issues. Usha stated that the athletes, their coaches, and support staff are responsible weight management in sports like wrestling, weightlifting, boxing, and judo. She backed the IOA medical team after it received flak following Vinesh's retirement from the sport.
Why does this story matter?
Usha, in a recent statement, defended the IOA Chief Medical Officer Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala, who was blamed for the Vinesh case. As per the statement, the IOA appointed a medical team ahead of the Paris Olympics for the recovery and injury management of athletes during and after their events. Besides defending the medical team, Usha targeted the coaches and support staff.
Here's the official statement
"The responsibility of weight management of athletes in sport 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," said Usha in the statement. "The hate directed at the IOA medical team, especially Dr Pardiwala, is unacceptable and worthy of condemnation."
India awaits Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) verdict
Usha's statement comes as India awaits the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) verdict in wrestler Vinesh Phogat's disqualification case. Vinesh made two appeals, pertaining to her ineligibility for the Olympics gold medal and be considered for joint-silver medal.
Heartbreak for Vinesh Phogat at Paris Games
The biggest disappointment for the Indian contingent at the 2024 Paris Olympics was the disaqualification of wrestler Vinesh ahead of her gold medal bout. Vinesh became the first Indian woman wrestler to reach an Olympic final, however, she failed to make the weight for her 50 kg final bout. Vinesh weighed 100 grams over the permissible limit for her gold medal clash.
