The Badminton World Federation (BWF) announces that India’s Tokyo 2020 Paralympic gold medalist, Pramod Bhagat, has been suspended for 18 months due to anti-doping regulation violations.
“Tokyo 2020 Paralympic champion Pramod Bhagat has been suspended for a period of 18 months and will miss the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games,” BWF said in a statement.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) found Bhagat guilty of three whereabouts failures within 12 months.
“On 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,” read the statement.
Despite appealing, the CAS Appeals Division upheld the decision, confirming the suspension. Bhagat, an SL3 athlete, will miss the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
“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.”
Earlier his year Bhagat had defended his men’s singles SL3 title as he defeated England’s Daniel Bethell in a hard-fought final at the 2024 Para Badminton World Championships in Pattaya, Thailand.
The 35-year-old Bhagat came from behind to beat his arch-rival 14-21, 21-15, 21-15 in a contest which lasted an hour and 40 minutes.
It was Bhagat’s fourth singles world title for Bhagat, who has previously won the same medal thrice in 2015, 2019, and 2022. He also has a men’s doubles gold at the global championships from the 2013 edition.
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