"Weight Management A Responsibility Of The Athlete" - IOA Head PT Usha Blames Vinesh Phogat For Olympics Debacle

The Vinesh Phogat debacle has gained momentum in India despite the Paris Olympics having already concluded. Following her disqualification from the tournament due to weight limit issues, some members of Parliament have pointed fingers at the IOA medical team for failing to monitor her weight. Now, the IOA chief, PT Usha, has come to the defense of the medical team, effectively throwing Vinesh Phogat and her team under the bus in the process. Vinesh Phogat was found to be 100 grams over the weight limit on the day of her final bout in the women’s 50 kg category. The resultant disqualification led to Phogat announcing her retirement. Moreover, Phogat, with the IOA by her side, filed an appeal with the CAS for a shared claim on the silver medal. However, the debate regarding the negligence involved in her weight gain seems to be stirring a clash between the athlete and the IOA.

PT Usha Defends The IOA Medical Team Over Disqualification Of Vinesh Phogat

The disqualification of Vinesh Phogat sent shockwaves across the nation, given that the contingent lost an otherwise assured silver medal. The incident sparked a debate in the Indian Parliament, where some members blamed the IOA Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala, for negligence leading to the unfortunate disqualification of Vinesh Phogat. However, the IOA chief and former Olympian, PT Usha, has stepped in to defend Dr. Pardiwala, claiming that the responsibility lies with the athlete and her respective team.

"...the responsibility of weight management of athletes in sports like wrestling, weightlifting, boxing, and judo is that of each athlete and his or her coach and NOT that of the IOA-appointed Chief Medical Officer Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala and his team," Usha said in a statement.

"...the hate directed at the IOA medical team, especially Dr. Pardiwala, is unacceptable and worthy of condemnation." She hoped that those rushing to judge the IOA medical team "would consider all facts before arriving at any conclusions."

The chief further explained that the IOA medical team was formed just two months prior to the Paris Olympics 2024, with the specific goal of assisting athletes with injuries during the tournament. Moreover, Usha highlighted how most athletes have their own team of dieticians and support staff for matters regarding weight regulation. Usha further explained that the IOA was mainly there to assist athletes who didn’t have their own nutritionists and physiotherapists with them.

The IOA has issued this statement 2 hours back:

“The Indian Olympic Association President Dr PT Usha today clarified that the responsibility of weight management of athletes in sport like wrestling, weightlifting, boxing and judo is that of each athlete and his or her coach and… pic.twitter.com/XCPNonksEU

— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) August 11, 2024

"Each Indian athlete in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in such sports had his or her own support team. These support teams have been working with the athletes over so many years," Usha said.

"The IOA appointed a medical team a couple of months ago, primarily as a team that would assist in the recovery and injury management of athletes during and after their competition. This team was also designed to support athletes who did not have their own team of nutritionists and physiotherapists," she further added.

The conflict now seems to have alienated Vinesh Phogat and the IOA. Vinesh Phogat, along with the IOA, had earlier filed an appeal with the CAS, demanding a shared claim on the silver medal in the 50 kg wrestling category. The case is still pending as the CAS has pushed the final decision to August 13. After the disqualification, Phogat’s semi-final opponent Yusneylis Guzman earned a spot in the final, where she subsequently claimed the silver medal.