Tokyo gold medalist Pramod Bhagat reacts after getting 18-month suspension
Pramod Bhagat, India's celebrated para-badminton player, has been handed an 18-month suspension by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). The decision was made on August 13 after Bhagat was found guilty of breaching the anti-doping whereabouts clause. This suspension will prevent him from participating in the upcoming Paralympic Games. Reacting to his suspension, Bhagat said it was due to a technical glitch. Here are further details.
Bhagat's response to suspension
Bhagat expressed his disappointment over the suspension on social media, attributing one of the failures to a "technical glitch." He also disclosed that his appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) was rejected. Bhagat stated, "I am deeply saddened by the decision of CAS and BWF to suspend me from participating in the Paris 2024 Paralympics Games." He clarified that this suspension resulted from three whereabouts failures within a year.
Bhagat's team appealed against the decision
Bhagat and his team have actively appealed against this decision, citing technical issues as the cause of these failures. Despite their efforts, they were unable to resolve the matter before the 2024 Paralympic Games. "My team and I have been proactive in appealing this decision, citing the technical issues that led to these failures," Bhagat said in a statement.
Bhagat thanks supporters amid suspension
Despite the setback, Bhagat remains hopeful and thanked his supporters for their unwavering faith in him. "I want to thank my fans, family, and the Badminton community for their unwavering support," he said. He further added that this has been an emotionally challenging time for him as an athlete who has always competed with integrity.
Here is Pramod's post!
Bhagat's historic gold medal at Tokyo 2020 Paralympics
Bhagat made history by winning a gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. He defeated Great Britain's Daniel Bethell in the final of men's singles SL3 category, securing his fourth singles world title. This victory marked him as the first Indian badminton player to win a gold medal in this category. His journey to professional badminton began at age 13, despite physical challenges due to polio affecting his left leg.
