Paris 2024 Olympics: Disqualified before the final due to being overweight, an Indian wrestler sees her appeal rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport

Le TAS rejette l’appel de la lutteuse indienne Vinesh Phogat, disqualifiée avant sa finale. EPA – YAHYA ARHAB

Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat on Thursday lost her appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after she was disqualified from the under-50kg final at the Paris Olympics for being overweight.

Phogat, a three-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist, was due to face American Sarah Hildebrandt for the gold medal in Paris but weighed in 100 grams over the 50kg limit for the final.

She had never been over the weight limit before her previous fights. The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has appealed to the sport's world governing body, United World Wrestling (UWW), seeking a review of the decision.

Phogat has asked CAS, which is hearing his case, to award him a silver medal ex aequo.

“UWW decision upheld”

On Thursday, CAS said the appeal, which was heard by retired Australian judge Dr Annabelle Bennett as sole arbitrator, had "was rejected".

"Accordingly, the UWW's decision is confirmed", the statement added. Hildebrandt won gold in the final against Cuba's Yusneylis Guzman Lopez, who was repechaged and took silver despite losing to Phogat in the semifinals.

The 29-year-old world championship bronze medallist in 2019 and 2022 was in the spotlight for months last year as part of a long-running protest against the then Indian wrestling boss, who was embroiled in a sexual harassment scandal.

Following her disqualification in Paris, Phogat announced that she was retiring from wrestling.