Wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s petition for joint silver medal in Olympics 2024 has been dismissed by Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), sources told NDTV. The operative part of the order is out, while the detailed order will come in some time. 

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President Dr. PT Usha has expressed her shock and disappointment at the decision of the Sole Arbitrator at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to dismiss wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s application against the United World Wrestling (UWW) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The operative part of the August 14 decision, which dismisses Vinesh’s application to be awarded a shared silver medal women’s 50 kg category at the Paris Olympic Games 2024, has significant implications for her in particular and the sporting community at large.
 
The marginal discrepancy of a 100 grams and the resultant consequences has profound impact, not only in terms of Vinesh’s career but also raises serious questions about ambiguous rules and their interpretation. 

The IOA firmly believes that the total disqualification of an athlete for such a weight infraction on the second of two days warrants a deeper examination. Our legal representatives had duly brought this out in their submissions before the Sole Arbitrator. 

The matter involving Vinesh highlights the stringent and, arguably, inhumane regulations that fail to account for the physiological and psychological stresses athletes, particularly female athletes, undergo. It is a stark reminder of the need for more equitable and reasonable standards that prioritize athletes’ well-being.
 
In light of the order of the CAS, the IOA continues to stand in full support of Ms. Phogat and is exploring further legal options. The IOA is committed to ensuring that Vinesh’s case is heard. It will continue to advocate justice and fairness in sports, ensuring that the rights and dignity of athletes and everyone in the sports fold are upheld at all times.
 
We appreciate the continued support and understanding of our stakeholders, athletes, and the public.

More updates to follow.

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee – already under fire from the BJP over the rape and murder of a doctor at a Kolkata hospital – hit back at allies Congress Wednesday evening, shortly after party MP Rahul Gandhi‘s acerbic comment about the handling of the case by the “local administration”.

Ms Banerjee, whose Trinamool Congress is part of the Congress-led INDIA bloc, also took on fierce rivals CPI (Marxist), declaring “heinous crimes” had been committed in Bengal while the Left party was in power and “many incidents” had been reported from Congress-ruled states.

“I want to ask Congress… how many incidents have taken place in your states… what action do you take? And under CPIM rule there were a plethora of heinous crimes (and) the then government was silent. Since there was no social media then… people were not so aware,” she declared.

Referring to iconic Left leader and former Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, who died last week, she stressed “a lot of heinous crimes took place” while he was in power from 2000 to 2011.

Hours earlier Mr Gandhi said on X that “the attempt to save the accused, instead of providing justice to the victim, raises serious questions on the hospital and the local administration”.

READ | “Attempt To Save Accused…”: Rahul Gandhi On Doctor Rape-Murder

The Congress and the Trinamool are allies but their relationship is volatile, a state of affairs emphasised in the build-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha election, when there was heated speculation over seat-sharing.

Eventually the Trinamool contested on its own, against the Left and the Congress.

Till Mr Gandhi’s tweet the Congress had maintained a guarded silence on this case, with only Priyanka Gandhi Vadra making a careful comment.

“Abuse Me As Much As You Want…”

Ms Banerjee also slammed the BJP – which has launched protests demanding her resignation.

“Abuse me as much as you want… there are people running a smear campaign on social media. But do not abuse ‘Bangla Maa…'” she continued, invoking the party’s ‘Maa, Mati, Manush‘ war-cry.

Ms Banerjee holds Bengal’s Police, Home, and Health ministries and faces strong calls for accountability amid allegations by the doctor’s parents of serious lapses by hospital administration.

READ | Why CBI Got Kolkata Doctor Rape-Murder Case: Court’s Remarks

The parents also approached the High Court alleging negligence by the police. The cops, though, dismissed as false reports claiming they treated the death as ‘suicide’ and rushed to cremate the body.

Since points 1 & 2 concern Kolkata Police, we wish to clarify:
1. Reports of KP informing the family about a possible suicide are false. The family confirmed the call did not come from KP
2. ⁠KP didn’t cremate the body of deceased. It was her family who cremated her. https://t.co/ktoVv8scjZ

— Kolkata Police (@KolkataPolice) August 14, 2024

“I was in Jhargram… I was on my way when I spoke to CP (Kolkata police chief Vineet Kumar Goyal). I also spoke to the parents of the victim and assured them the police will investigate and that I want capital punishment. I stand with what I have said since the first day…” Ms Banerjee said today.

READ | Mamata Says Will Hand Over Rape-Murder Probe To CBI If…

The Chief Minister also said that the police had collected DNA and CCTV footage and that an accused – Sanjoy Roy – was arrested within 12 hours. “I visited their residence and took stock, minute-by-minute, of the situation all night. Police also escorted the body of the victim and throughout the investigation like DNA, CCTV footage – everything was carried out and within 12 hours murderer was arrested.”

READ | In Doctor Rape-Murder Case, CBI Will Investigate 6 Key Issues

Roy, now in the custody of the CBI, which was handed the case by the Calcutta High Court Tuesday after it overruled Ms Banerjee’s seven-day deadline for the police to solve this case.

The court’s decision was seen as a direct attack on Ms Banerjee’s government, and she hit out firmly, saying, “For any investigation, you need to give time. I had set a deadline till Sunday. You cannot take action against anyone without proper investigation. I respect both senior and junior doctors.”

“I cannot arrest people without proper investigation.” The Bengal government, however, “will completely follow the High Court and is cooperating with CBI”, she also said.

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