Why in news
The Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has challenged disqualification from the women’s 50kg category in the Paris Olympics after missing weight by a little over 100g
What exactly happened?
Wrestling at the Olympics happens over two days with the preliminary bouts happening on day one and the repechage and medal bouts happening on day two
Wrestlers must meet the exact weight limit for their category, with no tolerance beyond 50kg for the 50kg category.
On the second day, wrestlers have a strict 15-minute window to weigh in and must meet the weight requirement or face disqualification.
Vinesh’s regular weight is around 57kg.
On semi final day, she managed to weigh 49.9kg.
After eating even a small meal, her weight quickly increased to around 53kg.
After the semifinals, she weighed 52.7kg.
To meet the weight limit, she did not sleep, avoided water and food, and used extreme measures like running and saunas all night.
She managed to reach 50.1kg but did not have enough time to lose the final 100 grams before the weigh-in deadline.
What does the rule say?
According to Article 11 of the United World Wrestling’s rule book, an athlete who fails to make the weight cut will be eliminated from the event.
“If an athlete does not attend or fails the weigh-in (the 1st or the 2nd weigh-in), he will be eliminated from the competition and ranked last.”
This means, all results amassed thus far will be voided.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is the highest international tribunal dedicated to resolving disputes related to sports.
Established in 1984, the CAS is independent of any sports organization
It operates under the authority of the International Council of Arbitration for Sport (ICAS)
Headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, with additional courts in New York City and Sydney
With a panel of nearly 300 arbitrators from around the world, the CAS provides expert adjudication in complex legal matters within the sports industry.
CAS rulings carry the same legal weight as decisions made by traditional courts, emphasizing the binding nature of its rulings.
In addition to arbitration, the CAS offers mediation services as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism.
To accommodate the unique demands of major sporting events, such as the Olympic and Commonwealth Games, the CAS establishes temporary tribunals with tailored procedural rules.
This approach ensures efficient and effective dispute resolution within the specific context of these competitions
What will the larger impact of the case be?
If CAS rules in Vinesh’s favour, it will set a precedent for weight concessions on the second day - where the consequential bouts will be fought.
United World Wrestling(UWW) might have to consider the weight tolerance in the Olympics but can appeal the decision should the verdict go against it.
If CAS denies Vinesh’s appeal, she will return empty-handed
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