Are there any loopholes that could've worked in Vinesh Phogat's favour during CAS hearing? Here are details
Vinesh Phogat's fate who was disqualified from the Paris 2024 Olympics gold medal match in the 50kg freestyle wrestling category is now in the hands of Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) who will deliver its verdict on August 13.
While the hearings are completed and only the verdict is left, there might be a crucial 'loophole' in the United World Wrestling (UWW) rulebook that could potentially benefit Phogat, according to media reports.
According to current regulations, Phogat’s disqualification was due to her failing the weigh-in by a mere 100 grams. UWW rules state that no exceptions can be made for such violations, which seemingly rules out the possibility of awarding Phogat a silver medal. However, an intriguing loophole in the rulebook might offer Phogat a chance.
The key issue revolves around the rules for the repechage round. UWW rules stipulate that the repechage opportunity is given to wrestlers who lose to the finalists. In the 50kg freestyle final, Yui Susaki of Japan was granted a chance to compete in the repechage round. However, since Phogat was disqualified and did not officially participate in the final match, the basis for Susaki’s participation in the repechage is questionable, suggested media reports.
According to the rules, Susaki should not have been eligible for the repechage because Phogat’s disqualification effectively removed her from the final match consideration. Therefore, the decision to include Susaki in the repechage may have been contrary to UWW regulations.
As the final CAS
