The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) had deemed her “ineligible” for participation in its events until June 26.
The court allowed Phogat to submit a “comprehensive reply” to the WFI’s show-cause notice regarding allegations of indiscipline and violations of anti-doping rules.
Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav instructed the WFI to resolve the show-cause notice by July 6 and present its decision to the court.
The judge also issued a notice to the WFI, the Centre, and the Indian Olympic Association in response to Phogat’s petition concerning her “ineligibility,” emphasizing the need to balance “competing interests” in this matter.
The senior counsel representing Phogat argued for her right to participate in the trials scheduled for May 30-31.
He highlighted that while international standards protect the ranking and status of female athletes on maternity leave, the recent WFI policy excluded Phogat.
“You have already been declared ineligible. How can we grant you that relief without hearing the other side? The (WFI) policy requires examination. Competing interests are at play. We appreciate your maternity leave, but national interest is also important. Let them submit a reply,” Justice Kaurav stated.
When Phogat’s counsel requested permission for her to compete in the trials, the court responded, “Allowing you to participate only for it to amount to a complete nullity later achieves nothing.” Justice Kaurav granted the respondents two weeks to reply, noting that a decision wouldn’t be feasible before the court’s summer recess in June.
Phogat’s counsel claimed there was “something more than what meets the eye,” referring to her ban from a competition in Gonda on May 10-11, just a day after the show-cause notice was issued.
“The notice was given to me on May 9 regarding issues related to the Paris Olympics 2024. There’s more to this situation,” the senior counsel asserted, urging that Phogat be allowed to respond to the notice adequately.
Scheduling the matter for hearing on July 6, the court remarked, “The petitioner is permitted to file a comprehensive reply to the show-cause notice. Meanwhile, the WFI is directed to resolve the notice before the next hearing. Any decisions must be recorded.” The WFI had declared Phogat ineligible for domestic events until June 26, 2026, citing the mandatory six-month notice period for athletes returning from retirement under anti-doping regulations.
A determined Phogat, however, attended the National Open Ranking Tournament in Gonda.
She was part of the 2023 protests by women wrestlers against alleged sexual harassment by former WFI president Brijbhushan Sharan Singh.
In August 2024, she was disqualified from the 50-kilogram category Olympic finals for being over the weight limit by 100 grams.
In her petition, Phogat contested the WFI’s selection policy and the circular that restricted eligibility for the Asian Games trials to medalists from specific tournaments.
Phogat argued that the “qualification window” set by the WFI significantly overlapped her acknowledged sabbatical for pregnancy and postpartum recovery, creating an “arbitrary and discriminatory” barrier.
Her petition further claimed that the WFI’s exclusionary framework contradicted global sports governance and principles of athlete welfare, which require reasonable accommodations for maternity and phased returns for elite female athletes.
“The petitioner does not seek automatic qualification, relaxation of standards, or judicial intervention on technical assessments. She merely asks for a fair constitutional chance to participate in the selection process for the 2026 Asian Games upon completing her maternity-related break,” the petition stated.
“Notably, the International Testing Agency, on behalf of the United World Wrestling, confirmed that the petitioner would be eligible to resume competitive participation from January 1, 2026,” it added.
The petition also argued that the May 9 show-cause notice and subsequent declaration of her ineligibility for WFI events until June 26 were arbitrary, lacking jurisdiction, and legally unsustainable.
Phogat contended that the “declaration of ineligibility” violated principles of natural justice, procedural fairness, and due process.
Additionally, she argued that the WFI’s characterization of her Olympic disqualification as conduct causing “national embarrassment” was disproportionate and punitive, as no findings of fraud, misconduct, or unethical behavior had been recorded by the competent authorities.
