Para-Badminton Player Pramod Bhagat Faces 18-Month Ban, Misses Paris Paralympics 2024
Tokyo Paralympic Gold Medalist Suspended for Anti-Doping Violation; Appeals Rejected by CAS
India's para-badminton player Pramod Bhagat has been banned for 18 months after being found guilty of a doping violation. Due to the ban, he will not be able to participate in the upcoming Paris Paralympics 2024. This is no less than a shock for him. Because he won the gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics. This is also a violation of the anti-doping rules of the Badminton World Federation.
The BWF said in a statement that the Badminton World Federation confirms that India's Tokyo 2020 Paralympic champion Pramod Bhagat has been suspended for 18 months and will not play the Paris Paralympics.
It said that on March 1, 2024, the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) Anti-Doping Division found Bhagat guilty of violating the BWF's anti-doping rule. He had failed to disclose his whereabouts three times in a year.
36-year-old Indian player Pramod Bhagat had appealed against this decision in the Appeals Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sports, which was rejected last month.
The statement said, that on July 29, 2024, the CAS Appeals Division rejected Bhagat's appeal and confirmed the March 1, 2024 decision of the CAS Anti-Doping Division. His suspension is now effective. This suspension will remain in force till September 1, 2025.
Bihar-born Pramod Bhagat equaled China's Lin Dan by winning his fifth World Championship title in February last year. Indian Para-Badminton Chief Coach Gaurav Khanna said that it is very sad and unfortunate. He was a medal hope in the Paralympics but he is a warrior and I am sure he will come back strongly.
