Vinesh signals fightback after WFI show-cause notice

Phogat published a message on X signaling a fightback, writing: 'Life is stuck in the middle of a storm. The world keeps searching for flaws in my character.. Life, I have always kept your head held high, No sword has the power to make it bow.'

The Wrestling Federation of India issued a detailed show-cause notice to Vinesh Phogat, accusing her of indiscipline and anti-doping rule violations. The notice also declares her ineligible to compete in domestic events, including the National Open Ranking tournament, until June 26, and states she failed to complete the mandatory six-month notice period required for athletes returning from retirement under United World Wrestling anti-doping regulations.

Phogat is reported to have stepped back from competition following her disqualification at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, marking a pause in her career before later announcing a comeback.

Phogat disclosed that she was one of six women wrestlers who filed sexual harassment complaints against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan. The disclosure comes in the context of the 36-day sit-in protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar in April-May 2023 led by Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia.