The ad-hoc division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport has again deferred the decision to August 16, against Vinesh Phogat’s plea to retrieve her disqualification and be awarded with Silver medal.
Suspense continued on the fate of Phogat's appeal as delayed has been noted without specifying any reasons.
The 29-year-old was disqualified from the women's 50kg freestyle final for being 100gm overweight at the time of weigh-in on Wednesday last week.
"The CAS ad hoc division president has allowed Hon. Dr Annabelle Bennett, Sole Arbitrator in the Vinesh Phogat vs United World Wrestling (UWW) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) matter, an extension until 6:00 pm (Paris time) on Friday, August 16, 2024," a release from the IOA said.
This is the third postponement in the case and no reasons have been given.
In her appeal, Vinesh demanded that she be given a joint silver medal with Cuban wrestler Yusneylis Guzman Lopez, who had lost to her in the semifinals but was promoted to the final following the Indian's disqualification.
Vinesh's legal team has French lawyers Joelle Monlouis, Estelle Ivanova, Habbine Estelle Kim and Charles Amson who helped her and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) during the filing of the application. They have been provided to her by the Paris Bar and are handling the case pro bono.
In addition, senior counsels Harish Salve and Vidushpat Singhania were also roped in to help her in the case.
According to reports, the IOA had sent out invites for an online press conference with its president PT Usha and Salve at the same time at which the verdict was expected this evening. That invite was withdrawn within minutes of the CAS statement.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach later stated that he could understand her situation but also wondered where would one draw the line after allowing small concessions in certain situations.
The CAS ad-hoc division is set up especially for dispute resolution during the Olympic games which had accepted Vinesh's appeal against her ouster on Friday last week.
Follow us
