“Weight Management A Responsibility Of Athlete, Coach….”: PT Usha

Dr. PT Usha

Dr. PT Usha, President of the Indian Olympic Association, has clarified that the responsibility for managing weight in sports like wrestling, weightlifting, boxing, and judo lies with each individual athlete and their coach, not with the IOA-appointed Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala, and his team.

Dr. Usha emphasized that each Indian athlete competing in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in these sports has their own support team. These teams have been working closely with the athletes for many years, according to a statement from the IOA.

The IOA had appointed a medical team a few months ago, primarily to assist athletes with recovery and injury management during and after their competitions. This team was also intended to support athletes who might not have their own nutritionists and physiotherapists.

Dr. Usha condemned the backlash directed at the IOA medical team, particularly Dr. Pardiwala, calling it “unacceptable and worthy of condemnation.” She urged those quick to judge the medical team to consider all the facts before making any conclusions.

This statement follows the disqualification of Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat from the women’s 50 kg final at the Paris Olympics for exceeding the weight limit before the title match.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has extended the deadline for its verdict on whether to award a silver medal to Vinesh Phogat, who was disqualified, until Tuesday, August 13.

According to the IOA, CAS has given the Sole Arbitrator, Hon Dr. Annabelle Bennett, until 6:00 PM Paris time and 9:30 PM IST on August 13 to deliver a decision in the case of Vinesh Phogat vs. United World Wrestling & the International Olympic Committee.

The IOA also clarified that the August 11 reference in their earlier communication was for the time allotted to all parties to submit additional documents before the arbitrator.

Reacting to the extension, Indian wrestling legend Mahavir Phogat, Vinesh’s uncle, expressed their anticipation: “It has been three days since we have been waiting. Whenever the decision is out, we will be happy.”

Vinesh Phogat, who was disqualified for slightly exceeding the weight limit, announced her retirement from wrestling following the incident. She had reached the gold medal match by defeating Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez 5-0 in the semi-finals. She was set to face Sarah Ann Hildebrandt of the United States for the gold but was disqualified for the weight limit breach. Earlier in the tournament, Phogat achieved a significant victory by defeating Tokyo 2020 champion Yui Susaki of Japan in the round of 16.

After her disqualification, Phogat requested CAS to award her the silver medal.

CAS has established an ad hoc division in Paris, led by President Michael Lenard from the US, to handle Olympic cases. This division operates within the Paris judicial court in the 17th arrondissement.

In an emotional post on social media, Vinesh Phogat announced her retirement, expressing gratitude and sorrow: “Maa kushti (wrestling) won against me, I lost. Forgive me, your dream and my courage have been broken. I don’t have any more strength now. Goodbye Wrestling 2001-2024. I will always be indebted to you all for forgiveness.”

Throughout her distinguished career, Vinesh Phogat secured two World Championships bronze medals (2019 and 2022), an Asian Games gold (2018) and bronze (2014), and three Commonwealth Games gold medals (2014, 2018, 2022). She also won gold in the Asian Championships (2021) and earned silver and bronze at the continental level.