Wrestling: Four handed temporary bans, Rio dreams over

The Wrestling Federation of India on Friday issued show cause notice to four wrestlers including the two Phogat sisters, Babita Kumari and Geeta, and handed them temporary suspension for showing indiscipline, bringing their dreams of qualifying for the Rio Olympics to an abrupt end.

Besides the Phogat sisters, Sumit (men’s 125kg freestyle) and Rahul Aware (men’s 57kg freestyle), have also been temporarily banned.

“Four of them have been handed temporary suspension and are de-barred from taking part in the next Olympic qualification event in Istanbul,” WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar said.

The last Olympic qualifier — second World qualification tournament — is scheduled to take place in Istanbul, Turkey, from May 6 to 8.

At the recently concluded 1st World qualification tournament in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Babita had forfeited her repechage bout in the women’s 53kg, while Geeta had pulled out citing an injury in the 58kg.

Meanwhile, Sumit, who had a chance to book an Olympic berth had he won his repechage round followed by two more bouts, but the heavyweight grappler did not turn up for his repechage bout in the 125kg freestyle citing injury.

“All these wrestlers were guilty of indiscipline at the last tournament. Even if you want to forfeit your bout or have an injury concern, there is a way and procedure to officially withdraw.

But these wrestlers did not bother to follow any proper procedure. This reflects very poorly on their as well the country’s part. The world body has also debarred them from the next competition,” said the official.