Odisha Para-shuttler Pramod Bhagat suspended for 18 months, to miss Paris Paralympics

Star Odisha para shuttler Pramod Bhagat, who is a Tokyo gold medallist, has been suspended for a period of 18 months due to whereabout failure. As a result, Pramod will miss the Paris Paralympic Games, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) said on Tuesday.

“In 1 March 2024, the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) Anti-Doping Division found Bhagat in breach of the BWF anti-doping regulations for committing three whereabouts failures within 12 months,” BWF said in a statement.

“On 29 July 2024, the CAS Appeals Division dismissed the Bhagat’s appeal and confirmed the CAS Anti-Doping Division decision of 1 March 2024. His period of ineligibility is now in effect,” the statement added.

As per reports, Bhagat, an SL3 athlete, appealed this decision to the CAS Appeals Division.

Notably, Bhagat won a gold medal at the Tokyo Paralympics in men’s singles SL3 category after beating Daniel Bethell of Great Britain in the final.

In response, Pramod expressed shock over the development.

“I had updated the data and I don’t have any fault. However, it could not be updated due to technical issues. Though WADA is accepting that it’s a minor mistake, they took the hard decision by saying that a former Paralympic champion can’t take the matter so lightly. I am shocked over the development. I will appeal for the reconsideration of the case,” said Pramod. 

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