‘If I join BJP, my bans will be lifted’: Bajrang Punia on suspension of NADA | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Ace wrestler and Olympic bronze medalist Bajrang Punia said on Wednesday that the decision of the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) to ban him was a retaliatory move by the government, which claimed that this would be reversed if he joined the BJP.
Punia has been banned for four years by NADA for allegedly refusing to provide a sample for doping test during national team selection trials on March 10 this year. NADA first suspended him on April 23, and the sport’s world body, United World Wrestling (UWW), also imposed a ban.
However, Bajrang denied refusing the doping test and said, “I have also said in the past that I did not refuse to give a sample to NADA. When they visited my house to conduct the doping test, they came with an expiry date package (in December 2023) I also posted this on social media.”

Bajrang, who joined the Congress Party along with wrestler Vinesh Phogat earlier this year, explained that expired kits were provided during the test. He said: ‘You can’t give a shelf life kit to any player and as far as I’m concerned my team was there so they saw it. They came with expiration dates 2020, 2021, 2022. I gave my urine sample. , but then my team checked the kit and discovered it was expired. So we took a video of the kit and we emailed NADA and called them to inform them of the error. But they did not accept their mistake.
Bajrang claimed that the suspension was related to his participation in protests against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, a BJP politician and former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president, for alleged sexual abuse of female wrestlers. He said, “I also feel that because of our protest in support of the women wrestlers, they are trying to take revenge because all agencies are under the purview of the government.”
He added, “I have been competing for the last 10-12 years and I have given samples in all the tournaments, during the India camps. But the government’s motive is to break us, to make us bow before them. If I join the BJP, I think all my bans will be lifted.”
Bajrang’s suspension means he will not be able to compete or apply for coaching roles abroad until April 22, 2028.