NEW DELHI: The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has decided to impose life ban on wrestlers after the federation was fined 40,000 Swiss Francs by the United World Wrestling (UWW), the sport’s international governing body.
WFI has written to two wrestlers who failed dope tests in the last two years — Manish and Jiten — that they have to pay the fine or face life bans. As per UWW rules, if a medal-winning wrestler is caught for a doping violation in an international tournament, his/her country’s national federation is fined 20,000 Swiss Francs, reports The Tribune.
WFI is yet to pay the combined fine of 40,000 Swiss Francs for the two wrestlers, failing which it could get blacklisted by UWW. “If they (wrestlers) don’t pay, they will be banned for life. Why should the federation pay the penalty when the fault lies with them?” WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar told The Tribune.
Greco-Roman wrestler Manish, who won the bronze medal in the 50kg category at the Junior Asian Championships held in Taichung, Chinese Taipei, this year is serving a four-year suspension that ends in July 2021 after he tested positive for melodonium.
Jiten, who won the freestyle gold in the 69kg division at the 2016 Asian Championships for Cadets, also held in Taichung, tested positive for furosemide. His suspension runs out in August 2018.
