NEW DELHI: Just a week before her much-anticipated return to competitive wrestling, Vinesh Phogat has received a formal warning from the International Testing Agency (ITA) for missing an out-of-competition doping test. This marks her first 'whereabouts failure' within a 12-month period.
Background and Context
The development comes as the two-time World Championships medallist and three-time Olympian prepares to compete in a senior open ranking tournament in Gonda from May 10 to 12. This will be her first competitive appearance since the Paris Olympics and nearly 20 months after coming out of retirement. The event, held in the political stronghold of former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, is expected to serve as a key pathway for wrestlers aiming to enter the national camp and stake a claim for the upcoming Asian Games trials.
Details of the Missed Test
According to a notice issued by the ITA, the missed test occurred on December 18, 2025, in Bengaluru. A Doping Control Officer (DCO) was unable to locate Vinesh during her designated one-hour testing window. Athletes in the Registered Testing Pool (RTP) must provide a daily 60-minute slot during which they are available for no-notice testing. Failure to do so results in a whereabouts failure.
Vinesh was initially notified of the missed test on January 5, 2026, and she provided an explanation on January 19. She stated that she was attending the first winter session of the Haryana legislative assembly on the day of the test and had traveled from Bengaluru to Chandigarh, disrupting her routine. She also cited personal responsibilities following the recent birth of her child.
ITA's Response
The ITA deemed her explanation insufficient. In its official notice, the anti-doping agency emphasized that while it acknowledged her commitments as an elected representative, the responsibility to remain available and update whereabouts information rests solely with the athlete. The ITA pointed out that Vinesh had multiple avenues—such as SMS, email, or a mobile app—to update her location but failed to do so.
The notice stated, 'The obligation is to be both available and accessible without prior notice at the location indicated. The ITA finds that you were unable to establish that no negligent behaviour on your part caused or contributed to your failure to update your whereabouts filings and be available and accessible for testing. Therefore, the ITA has decided to record this missed test. According to the information in our possession, this will be the first whereabouts failure to be recorded against you in the last 12 months.'
Consequences and Implications
The ITA has granted Vinesh seven days to request an administrative review of the decision. The notice was issued on May 4. Under rules set by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and United World Wrestling (UWW), three whereabouts failures within a 12-month period constitute an anti-doping rule violation, leading to a suspension of up to two years. This is Vinesh's first such failure since her return from retirement in December 2025.
The Lausanne-based ITA manages anti-doping programmes for International Federations (IFs) and Major Event Organisers (MEOs). It works closely with WADA to ensure compliance with the anti-doping body's Code and its connected standards.
Impact on Upcoming Tournament
The warning does not amount to a doping violation and will not affect her participation in the Gonda tournament. However, the timing of the notice has added a layer of intrigue ahead of Vinesh's comeback. She will compete in the 57kg category at the ranking meet and is expected to face tough competition in her new weight division.
Earlier on Sunday, Vinesh had sensationally revealed that she was one of the six female wrestlers who accused Brij Bhushan of sexual harassment. She has also raised concerns about the competition's fairness and venue, alleging that it is being held in Brij Bhushan's bastion and at an institution linked to him.
