'Weight limit rules same for all': CAS gives reasons for dismissing Vinesh Phogat's plea against olympics disqualification
Vinesh Phogat's appeal for an Olympic silver medal, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said that athletes will have to ensure that they remain below their weight limit and no exception can be provided under any circumstance.
Vinesh was disqualified from the women's 50kg freestyle final for being 100 grams overweight, following which the wrestler appealed against the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
CAS published a detailed decision explaining the rejection of Vinesh's appeal on Monday where it emphasized the importance of athletes adhering to the weight limit rules, stating that no tolerance is allowed even for small excesses or circumstances like the weight of the singlet or water retention.
«The problem for the Athlete is that the Rules are clear as to the weight limit and are the same for all participants. There is no tolerance provided for — it is an upper limit. It does not even allow for the weight of the singlet. It is clearly up to an athlete to ensure that they remain below that limit,» CAS stated.
«There is no dispute that the Applicant was above the weight limit. She gave the above evidence clearly and directly at the hearing. Her case is that the amount of excess was 100g and that a tolerance should apply as this is a small excess and explicable for reasons such as drinking water and water retention, in particular during the pre-menstrual phase.»
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Vinesh Phogat, 29, was disqualified on the
