Report: Bajrang Punia suspended by NADA for violating anti-doping rules, top Indian wrestler to respond by July 11

New Delhi, June 23: Olympic wrestling bronze medalist Bajrang Punia has received a formal “charge” from the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) for refusing to provide a urine sample. As a result, the multiple world championship medalist has been provisionally suspended again by the NADA, a report said. Bajrang Punia confirms: “He did not refuse to take a doping test,” says NADA did not respond to his request

Last month, Punia was provisionally suspended after he refused to give his urine sample to NADA during the selection trials in Sonepat on March 10. According to the Tribune report, “NADA’s final order was issued on Thursday and he was asked to respond to the latest suspension by July 11.” Following reports of his first provisional suspension, the wrestler had clarified that he never “refused to give his sample” and sought a response from NADA officials on the expired test kit they had sent him to collect his sample.

The Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADAP) later lifted the 30-year-old wrestler’s ban, citing the fact that NADA had not officially charged Bajrang for the anti-doping rule violation that allegedly occurred in March this year.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 23, 2024 1:19 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com.)