The Indian Olympic medalist, Bajrang Punia, has been suspended once again by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) after his initial suspension was revoked by the Anti-Disciplinary Doping Panel (ADDP) because they didn’t serve him a “notice of charge” earlier. The 30-year-old was initially suspended by NADA on April 23, for refusing to give his urine sample for a dope test over three months ago.
Notably, this refusal from Bajrang Punia happened during the selection trials held in Sonipat, Haryana, on March 10, as per the report from the Indian Express. Apart from the NADA suspension, the Indian wrestler was also suspended by the sport’s global body, the United Wrestling World (UWW).
It led to an appeal from Bajrang Punia against the provisional suspension, following which the ADDP revoked it on May 31 till NADA issued him a notice of charge, which happened on Sunday, June 23.
NADA wrote to Bajrang Punia, “This serves as a formal notice that you are being charged with the violation of Article 2.3 of the National Anti-Doping Rules, 2021 and now you are provisionally suspended.” The Olympian has till July 11 to either accept the charge or request for a hearing.
Meanwhile, Bajrang Punia has already stated that he never refused to give a urine sample for a dope test. He only demanded to learn from NADA by email about why expired kits were sent to take his samples in December last year.