Wrestler Bajrang Punia, who faced suspension by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) for the second time on June 24, accused the agency of targeting him for criticizing their system. He described NADA as arrogant and vowed to challenge their actions.
“This clearly shows how NADA is targeting me. They don’t want me to continue wrestling at any cost. They have no answers and refuse to take responsibility for their mistakes. They just want to harass the athlete to get rid of him. NADA doesn’t want anyone to question their wrong methods, and if someone does, they are targeted to prevent them from continuing their sport,” Punia stated on X.
Punia was initially suspended for allegedly refusing to provide a sample during the selection trials in Sonepat on March 10. He lost the trials, missing out on a chance to qualify for the Paris Olympics.
The 30-year-old multiple-time World Championship medallist claimed he never refused to give a sample but questioned why NADA sent an expired kit for sample collection in December 2023.
“Why doesn’t NADA answer about the expired kit? Why doesn’t NADA explain how an unregistered chaperone, not named in the mission order, approached and pressured me for sample collection? Why doesn’t NADA address why I was pressured to provide samples between two matches when I had only 20 minutes to prepare for the next bout?” Punia questioned on Monday.
The wrestler also confirmed that his lawyer would submit a timely response.
“If NADA wants to challenge the grit and determination of wrestlers standing up for their rights out of arrogance, let them do it. The wrestler is here and will fight till the end. My lawyer will file his reply on time,” he asserted.
