No immediate relief for Bajrang

The Delhi High Court today issued a notice to the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) on wrestler Bajrang Punia’s petition against his provisional suspension for allegedly refusing to give his sample for dope-testing.

However, Punia failed to get any immediate relief from the High Court as Justice Sanjeev Narula posted the matter for further hearing in October, saying no formal application was filed for interim relief. Punia can agitate his grievances before the disciplinary panel, the judge said.

The wrestler has moved the High Court ahead of the World Wrestling Championships scheduled to be held in Albania from October 28 to 31. The NADA counsel told the court that a disciplinary panel has been constituted and it is looking into the issue, adding that a final hearing is “about to happen”.

“This is a classic case of how to hound someone.... The world championship is round the corner. I have to participate, I have to practise. They are finishing my career,” senior advocate Rajiv Dutta submitted on behalf of Punia.

However, Justice Narula questioned Punia on his refusal to submit a sample for testing. “How will they let you play if you don’t test? If you don’t undergo the test, how will they qualify you?” Justice Narula asked.

Dutta asserted that Punia has “not refused” to undergo a dope test but has only demanded an answer from the authorities regarding the manner in which the earlier tests were sought to be conducted. The court, however, said it “cannot be the basis” to not undergo the test.

Punia’s counsel said the wrestler is ready to undergo the test on Wednesday itself. “Let them take the sample today,” Dutta submitted.

The NADA counsel said the authority “cannot take samples like this” as the same is done in accordance with a test-distribution plan. The counsel asserted that no player can refuse to undergo the dope test and Punia was not being “targeted”.