Written by Priyanshu Raj
Introduction:
The sporting field is often saturated with stories of struggles, victories, and strong will. For athletes, the limit is to set their goals and in the course of achieving this, they break records and barriers. One of such is Vinesh Phogat, one of India’s most popular wrestlers. She is the Commonwealth Games champion and the shining hope of every Indian athlete. Vinesh has had a roller-coaster of career wins and losses.[1] However, in recent times, her name has somewhat become an object of controversy due to an unprecedented incident which occurred as a result of her weight and a legal decision that shocked the sports community. The problem here is how the policies, rules, and judicial systems that govern a sport may sometimes stand as impediments to athletes even at the highest levels of the game.
The Rise of Vinesh Phogat:
To understand the crux of the dispute, one must first identify Vinesh Phogat’s battle in the wrestling world. The Phogat family, from which Vinesh descends, has produced numerous national and international wrestlers. Among the athletes whom she defeated are some of the bests in the world. Her achievement includes medals at the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, and World Championships. She has been a role model for many women in sports, showing that it is possible to succeed without following a traditional path, even under the pressure of the wrestling dynasty. Vinesh’s Olympic qualification was another great event in her already brilliant career. The whole country of India supported her during that time while she was getting ready to fight the best wrestlers of the world.
The Weight Issue:
Weight management is of utmost importance in sports like wrestling that require athletes to be categorized in weight classes that are strictly defined. The standards are unbending, and athletes’ meal plans as their training programs have to be strictly observed in order to achieve the necessary requirements. The margin for error is very small, and the repercussions of adhering to weight classifications can be very serious. In Phogat’s case, the crux of the controversy was a matter of her weight at the final weigh-in before one of the key matches at the Olympics.
As stated in the reports, Vinesh was already overweight for her category and hence, and hence, was disqualified from the competition.[2] The fall was really a big waste for the wrestler who spent months of intense training to get ready for the event. The consequences of this event occurred instantly. The fallout from this event was immediate. The incident, apart from not allowing Vinesh to compete, turned her into an overnight sensation for the wrong reasons. From Asia to Africa, the media took over the issue and are now breaking out the debate around the fairness of the weight classes in Wrestling and if that is creating an additional burden on the players.
Legal Arguments and the Quest for the Silver Medal:
Phogat’s disqualification had immediate repercussions. She was unable to compete in her weight category at the Olympics, which many believed cost her a potential medal. Following her disqualification, Phogat and her legal team sought to challenge the decision, arguing that the weight-related issues were not significant enough to warrant such a drastic measure. They claimed that the disqualification decision was not in accordance with the principles of fairness and that Phogat’s overall performance and track record should have been taken into account.[3]
The legal battle that followed centred around whether Phogat should get the silver medal, which she and her supporters claimed she would have had if she had been allowed to compete. The arguments that were sent to the arbitration court were not one-sided.
Law and Its Application in the Case:
This case is a clear example of the various ways sports law and the rules that govern athletic competitions can be interpreted. Sports law is an immense area that comprises numerous legal matters such as athletes’ rights, anti-doping regulations, disputes of contracts, and the enforcement of competition rules. The focus of the two issues was the enforcement of weight categories and the implications for athlete eligibility.
Under the sports law enforcement framework, governing bodies such as the wrestling federation have the right to establish the levels of rules that provide fair competition. Such rules are usually clearly stated in international and national regulations, which athletes must abide by. The arbitration court’s role is to interpret these rules and adjudicate disputes that arise when there is a perceived violation or injustice. The arbitration court’s decision to sustain the disqualification and deny the silver medal was predicated on a rigid interpretation of the rules which provide for the organisation of weight categories. The ruling of the court was directed to emphasise the fact that the rules have to be followed strictly, regardless of the circumstances like the pandemic, which are normally considered to be exceptions.[4]
The Broader Implications for Indian Athletes:
In Athlete’s opinion, the whole episode was a tearful end to what could have been another glorious chapter in her career. She had worked tirelessly to prepare for the Olympics. Still, this could have been the worst possible scenario. It was nothing but a cruel twist of fate that she was denied participation in the event due to weight management issues.
In interviews following the court’s decision, Vinesh expressed her frustration with the process. She said that it was the preoccupation with weight that had obscured her commitment and hard work to the sport. She requested a second look at the rules on weight categories, contending that athletes should not be penalised so severely for small infractions when their overall performance has been very good.[5]
The incident also raises concerns about the need for better athlete support systems; especially during the lead-up to big sports events such as the Olympics. Providing access to first-class training centres, nutritionists, and medical professionals who assist athletes with issues. Moreover, the incident has provided room for deliberations around the involvement of sports organisations in making sure that athletes are not unfairly penalised for issues beyond their control. The pandemic, which made it virtually impossible for the athletes to train and have access to the facilities, is one of such factors. With the sports world still dealing with the pandemic’s long-term implications, there may be a need for a more sophisticated approach to implementing competition rules.
Public Perception and Adaptation:
The public’s view on Phogat Vinesh’s controversy is very different. There is a strong sense of sympathy for Phogat, who has been a pioneer for Indian women athletes in the sport of wrestling. Nonetheless, the fans and supporters of the team argue that she was unjustly scrutinised and that the rules should have been more flexible due to the extraordinary situations caused by the pandemic.[6] However, the significance of preserving the integrity of sports is also appreciated. In wrestling, as in a number of other sports, there are several rules that must be observed rigorously in order to make the competition fair. The public’s agreement with the court’s season is the reflection of the recognition of the rules that have to be maintained in any tough situations even if it harms a favourite player.
The discussion about this controversy has also opened a broader debate regarding the pressures that athletes, especially women, have to deal with when it comes to weight management. The weight categories in sports such as wrestling are a two-edged sword, being a necessary mechanism for fair competition while at the same time putting significant pressure on the athletes to meet the stringent criteria. The public actions towards the incident demonstrates the necessity for a more supportive and understanding approach to athlete welfare.
Conclusion:
This incident is a very complicated and multi-faceted problem that concerns the relationship between sports law, the rights of athletes, and the perception of the public. The fact that the arbitration court decided to exclude the silver medal may seem disappointing to some, but it emphasises the necessity of sticking to the rules that govern sports competitions. For Indian athletes, the case is a reminder of the difficulties they are facing and the necessity for strong support systems that will help them to go through these challenges.
The sports community as a whole still faces and develops in the manner of addressing the issues coming up in the modern era of the time; thus, it is still important to keep the values of fairness, integrity, and the welfare of the athletes in the primary place. This incident will surely be remembered as a milestone in Indian sports which, on the one hand, will bring to mind the issue of how rules and empathy coexist in the world of competitive sports.
*The Author is a legal Scholar from India
(The Image used here is for representative purposes only)
References :
[1] Beating boys, an unfinished task, and a nation’s hopes for Vinesh Phogat, (https://olympics.com/en/news/vinesh-phogat-wrestling-india).
[2] Wrestler Vinesh Phogat Approaches Court of Arbitration for Sport Challenging Disqualification from Paris Olympics, (https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/wrestler-vinesh-phogat-approaches-court-of-arbitration-for-sport-challenging-disqualification-from-gold-medal-match-at-paris-olympics-2024-266158).
[3] Srinjoy Das, BREAKING | Court of Arbitration for Sport Dismisses Vinesh Phogat’s Plea for Joint-Silver Medal at Paris Olympics, (2024), (https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/breaking-court-of-arbitration-for-sport-dismisses-vinesh-phogats-plea-for-joint-silver-medal-at-paris-olympics-266791).
[4] Detailed report on CAS’ dismissal of Vinesh Phogat’s joint silver medal appeal, (https://www.scconline.com/blog/post/2024/08/20/vinesh-phogat-wrestling-paris-olympics-appeal-dismissed-cas-legal-news/).
[5] Vinesh Phogat appeal: Court of Arbitration for Sport defers decision - The Hindu, (https://www.thehindu.com/sport/olympics/cas-verdict-on-wrestler-vinesh-phogat-appeal/article68509111.ece).
[6] Vinesh Olympics disqualification: What is weight cutting, and why is it controversial? The Indian Express (Aug. 7, 2024), https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-sports/vinesh-olympics-disqualification-what-is-weight-cutting-and-why-is-it-controversial-9500983/).
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