Vinesh Phogat's appeal to CAS for joint silver: Find latest updates on the development

Vinesh Phogat's appeal to CAS for joint silver at Paris Olympics

Vinesh Phogat's quest for a silver medal may have been doused by the rules, which barred her from participating further at the Paris Olympics, but there is still some hope left for the Indian grappler. Vinesh, who missed the weight cut for the women's 50kg freestyle wrestling by 100 grams, have appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) to present her the joint silver medal, arguing she reached the position fair and square.

As the hearing for the same was reportedly scheduled for 5:30pm IST, we have to wait for the final verdict, which will be announced before the end of Paris Olympics.

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In this article, we take a look at all updates involving Phogat's appeal to the CAS that have taken place so far...

The CAS had accepted appeal by Vinesh and issued an official statement on the same on Friday. In the statement, CAS clarified that while it didn't allow the wrestler for a second weigh-in after failing to meet the weight cut, or reinstated her in the gold medal bout, it did agree to hear Vinesh's plea for a joint silver.

“An application was filed at the CAS Ad hoc Division at 16:45 CEST (Central European Summer Time) on 7 August 2024 by Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat (the Applicant) in relation to the decision taken by United World Wrestling (UWW) to replace her, because of her failed second weigh-in, before the gold medal match of the Women’s Freestyle 50kg competition at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 that was due to commence at 18:15 CEST the same day (the Challenged Decision),” the statement read.

"The Applicant initially sought a decision from the CAS Ad hoc Division annulling the Challenged Decision and ordering another weigh-in before the final match as well as a declaration that she be declared eligible and qualified to participate in the final. However, she did not request urgent interim measures.

"The CAS Ad hoc Division procedure is fast, but it was not possible for a decision on the merits to be issued within an hour, bearing in mind that the Respondent UWW would have had to be heard first. The procedure is, however, ongoing and the Applicant has confirmed that she seeks the annulment of the Challenged Decision and that she requests to be awarded a (shared) silver medal.”

The statement added that the hearing on the subject will be conducted on Friday but the final verdict can come anytime before the end of the Paris Games.

“The matter has been referred to the Hon. Dr Annabelle Bennett AC SC (AUS), sitting as a Sole Arbitrator, who will hold a hearing with the parties today. The Sole Arbitrator’s decision is expected to be issued before the end of the Olympic Games,” the statement concluded.

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Meanwhile, a report in WION disclosed the grounds on which Vinesh appealed for a joint silver medal to CAS. As per the report, three arguments that were highlighted in the petition are:

-  "Uphold the fundamental right of athletes to their physical integrity"

-  "There was no fraud committed and the disqualification was against the          hard work that took her to the gold match"

-  "Vinesh didn't commit fraud during the competition"