Pramod Bhagat’s 18-Month Ban Stops Him from Defending Gold at Paris Paralympics 2024
Indian para shuttler Pramod Bhagat, who won gold in the SL-3 category at the Tokyo Paralympics, has been handed an 18-month ban by the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) for whereabouts failures. This ban prevents him from defending his title at the Paris Paralympics 2024.
On August 13, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) confirmed the ban, which will keep Bhagat out of all badminton-related activities until September 1, 2025. Bhagat, who recently matched Chinese badminton great Lin Dan’s record of five world titles, expressed his disappointment, citing a technical glitch as the cause of his third anti-doping regulation breach.
Bhagat said, “I didn’t expect that the decision would go against me. My performance was really good, and I was sure that I would defend my medal. But the decision was heartbreaking for me. My four years of training became worthless. I am 36, and this medal was really important to me.”
Earlier this year, Bhagat won gold at the World Para-Badminton Championships. Despite his incredible form, the ban means he will miss the marquee event in Paris. Bhagat’s legal team is working to overturn the decision, but he believes his chances of featuring in Paris are quite difficult.
“It is very difficult. If I don’t play in Paris and then the decision comes in my favour, it won’t be beneficial for me. I won’t consider it my achievement,” Bhagat concluded.
Doubts Revealed
Pramod Bhagat -: Pramod Bhagat is an Indian para shuttler, which means he plays badminton and has a physical disability. He won a gold medal in the SL-3 category at the Tokyo Paralympics.
SL-3 category -: The SL-3 category is a classification in para-badminton for players who have a physical impairment that affects one or both legs and they play standing.
Tokyo Paralympics -: The Tokyo Paralympics is a major international sports event for athletes with disabilities, held in Tokyo, Japan, in 2021.
Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) -: The Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) is an international body that settles disputes related to sports, like disagreements about rules or bans.
whereabouts failures -: Whereabouts failures happen when athletes do not inform anti-doping authorities about their location, making it hard to conduct drug tests.
Paris Paralympics 2024 -: The Paris Paralympics 2024 is the upcoming major international sports event for athletes with disabilities, scheduled to be held in Paris, France.
Lin Dan -: Lin Dan is a famous Chinese badminton player known for winning many world titles. Pramod Bhagat recently matched his record of five world titles.
anti-doping regulation breach -: An anti-doping regulation breach means breaking the rules set to prevent athletes from using performance-enhancing drugs.