‘Breach Due To Technical Glitch’: Odisha Para-Shuttler Pramod Bhagat Reacts To 18-Month Suspension

Bhubaneswar: Hours after Badminton World Federation (BWF) announced his 18-month suspension, India’s Tokyo 2020 Paralympic gold medal winner Pramod Bhagat on Tuesday claimed that “his third whereabouts failure was a result of a technical glitch rather than any intentional wrongdoing”.

The whereabouts clause is a crucial aspect of the anti-doping regulations, the violations of which led to his suspension. It requires athletes to provide detailed information about their locations for out-of-competition testing.

In a post on X, the para shuttler from Odisha’s Bargarh said that he and his team had appealed this decision, citing the technical
issues that led to these failures. “Unfortunately, despite our efforts, we nave not been able to resolve this matter before the upcoming games. We respect WADA, CAS and will abide by it, but this has been a challenging and emotional time for me as an athlete who has always competed with integrity,” he wrote.

He also mentioned about the three whereabouts failures within a 12-month period and clarified that the the last one was caused by a technical glitch, not intentional misconduct. “I want to thank my fans, family, and the Badminton community for their unwavering support. Your belief in me is a source of strength, and I am hopeful that justice will prevail,” he added.

Pramod will miss the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games because of the suspension.

BWF STATEMENT

“In 1 March 2024, the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) Anti-Doping Division found Bhagat in breach of the BWF anti-doping regulations for committing three whereabouts failures within 12 months,” the BWF said in a statement.

“Bhagat, an SL3 athlete, appealed this decision to the CAS Appeals Division. On 29 July 2024, the CAS Appeals Division dismissed the Bhagat’s appeal and confirmed the CAS Anti-Doping Division decision of 1 March 2024. His period of ineligibility is now in effect,” it added.