Paris Paralympics 2024: Pramod Bhagat breaks silence on suspension, blames software

Tokyo Paralympics gold medallist para shuttler Pramod Bhagat is upset as he struggles to accept his suspension just days before the Paris Paralympics 2024. Pramod alleged that 'a small technical issue' spoiled his dream of defending the Paralympics gold medal. The Indian para-shuttler has been suspended for 18 months just 15 days before the start of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris for his anti-doping whereabouts failure. As the suspension has come into effect immediately, Pramod Bhagat will now be barred from all types of events after his challenge at the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) was dismissed. The 36-year-old Indian para shuttler, who competes in the Standing Lower 3 category, won a gold medal in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.

Paris Paralympics 2024: Pramod Bhagat breaks silence on suspension, blames software

Pramod Bhagat is heartbroken as he struggles to accept his suspension just days before the Paris Paralympics 2024. Pramod alleged that 'a small technical issue' spoiled his dream of defending the Paralympics gold medal. Pramod Bhagat became the first Paralympic champion in the men's singles badminton SL3 category. Badminton made its Paralympic Games debut in Tokyo. In the final, the Indian shuttler beat Great Britain's Daniel Bethell 21-14, 21-17 to clinch the gold medal.

"Today, all of you must know the bad and sad news that has floated around. It was very hard for me. I had never thought about it (suspension) because of a small technical issue. For the whereabouts, there is an app in which we have to submit our whereabouts every three months - four times a year. In January 2023, I submitted it and I was sure it was submitted as it showed a green signal. But on 3rd of January 2023, I got an email that filing failure for whereabouts has been done and they will count it as third whereabouts failure," Pramod Bhagat said.

The 2024 Paralympic Games will run from August 28 to September 8 showcasing athletes from around the globe. Unfortunately, Tokyo Paralympics gold medallist para shuttler Pramod Bhagat is set to miss the Paris Paralympics 2024 after being found guilty of breaching the BWF anti-doping regulations. Pramod Bhagat has now appealed this decision to the CAS Appeals Division. The Paris Paralympics 2024 will run from August 28 to September 8, with the Opening Ceremony on Wednesday, August 28.