Former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has distanced himself from the ongoing controversy regarding Vinesh Phogat’s participation in wrestling trials, stating that the matter is under the jurisdiction of the current WFI administration.
Singh defended the federation’s actions during his tenure, emphasizing that athletes were never stopped from competing without valid reasons. He clarified that decisions on trial locations and participant selection fall within the purview of the Wrestling Federation of India.
In a recent development, Vinesh Phogat was deemed “ineligible” by WFI to participate in sanctioned competitions until at least June 26, 2026. This exclusion includes the upcoming 2026 Senior Open Ranking Tournament in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh.
Vinesh Phogat, a former World Championships medallist, refuted the ban, asserting that she had not violated any anti-doping rules and had only missed one whereabouts filing due to personal reasons. She expressed confusion over the federation’s stance, highlighting that international authorities had cleared her for participation in international events.
