Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat faces uncertainty over her return to competitive wrestling ahead of the National Open Ranking Tournament in Gonda, with ambiguity surrounding her compliance with the World Anti-Doping Agency’s mandatory six-month notice rule for retired athletes returning to the sport.
Vinesh had announced her retirement after the heartbreak of the 2024 Summer Olympics but later expressed her intention to resume competition in December 2025. She has now entered the National Open Ranking Tournament, scheduled to be held from May 10 to May 12 in Gonda, in the 57kg category.
However, questions remain over whether she has fulfilled the conditions laid down under the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Article 5.6.1, which governs the return of retired athletes to competition.
What WADA’s Rule Says
Under the rule, any athlete who was part of a Registered Testing Pool (RTP) and later retired must provide a six-month written notice before returning to competition. During that period, the athlete must make themselves available for anti-doping testing by both the relevant international federation and the national anti-doping authority.
The regulation is designed to prevent athletes from remaining outside the testing system for extended periods before immediately returning to elite competition.
The rule also states that if an athlete competes without complying with the six-month requirement, any result achieved during that period may be disqualified unless the athlete can prove they were unaware the event qualified as a national or international-level competition.
Athletes can, however, apply for an exemption from the six-month notice requirement.
Wrestling Federation Awaiting Clarity
Wrestling Federation of India President Sanjay Singh said the federation is still waiting for confirmation from the international governing body regarding Vinesh’s status.
“We do not know as of today if Vinesh has fulfilled this criterion. If she is eligible, only then can she compete; otherwise not. We are waiting for a confirmation from UWW. If Vinesh had sought an exemption, we would have been notified by the authorities,” Singh said.
Vinesh had been part of the RTP during her active wrestling career. Reports indicate that after deciding to return, she re-entered the testing pool and had already recorded one whereabouts failure after missing a scheduled test conducted by the International Testing Agency.
It remains unclear whether she officially submitted the mandatory six-month notice before registering for the Gonda event.
Attempts to contact Vinesh for comment reportedly did not yield a response, with her personal assistant stating that she was occupied.
Asian Games Dream Faces Major Setback
Even if Vinesh is cleared to compete and performs strongly in the National Open Ranking Tournament, it is unlikely to help her immediate goal of qualifying for the 2026 Asian Games.
According to the Wrestling Federation of India’s selection policy announced earlier this year, performances in National Open Ranking tournaments will not be considered for Asian Games selection trials.
Instead, eligibility for the trials has been restricted to medal winners from:
- The 2025 Senior National Championships
- The 2026 Federation Cup
- The 2026 Under-20 National Championships
The women’s trials are scheduled for May 30, while the men’s trials will take place on May 31.
As a result, even a successful comeback in Gonda may not be enough for Vinesh to secure a pathway back into India’s Asian Games squad, dealing a significant blow to her hopes of returning to the international stage.