GONDA: What was expected to be a routine domestic ranking series wrestling tournament in Uttar Pradesh’s Gonda district turned out to be one of the most political and emotional episodes of Indian wrestling in recent years. Rabi – the three-time Olympian and two-time World Championship medalist – was standing outside the indoor hall of the Nandininagar Mahavidyalaya on Monday afternoon. Vinesh PhogatComing back from retirement and stepping directly into the stronghold of former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.But the official comeback never took place. Despite arriving at the venue with husband Somveer Rathi, personal security staff, former protest colleagues and around 50 supporters, Vinesh was denied entry to the Nandininagar Mahavidyalaya indoor hall complex in Nawabganj, the venue of the three-day meeting.
“What do you expect from me? Accept defeat? Shall I take sannyas and stay away? So that their conspiracy against me succeeds? They are not allowing me. They want to see me tired and retired. I am only asking for a fair chance to compete but they are insisting that I respond to their notices first. It is all a conspiracy,” she said after meeting WFI officials.Vinesh, who has publicly identified herself as one of the six female wrestlers who accused Brij Bhushan of sexual harassment during the Jantar Mantra protests in 2023, announced the National Open Ranking Series event as the start of her return to the Los Angeles Olympics.Vinesh also rejected allegations that his comeback attempt is “politically motivated”. “You’re calling me a ‘fragment gang’, then who are you (referring to Singh and the WFI)?” I have given 20 years to Indian wrestling. I have given my heart and soul to this game. Players are under stress. I don’t feel safe in this environment. They want me to retire so that their conspiracy succeeds,” he claimed.But WFI remained inactive. “On five points, the WFI has given notice to him. Until she answers the charges, we will not allow her to participate. For this tournament, he remains suspended,” WFI president Sanjay Singh said.Inside the registration hall, Vinesh tried to complete the physical verification for his weight category but was not allowed to proceed. Later, he also claimed that he was prevented from training in the indoor wrestling hall within the complex. Federation officials, however, said they were unaware of any such denial.The federation maintained that disciplinary action against her is still pending and she remains suspended from domestic competition until June 26, 2026. Yet Vinesh insisted that he had fulfilled all the anti-doping and procedural requirements mandated by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and United World Wrestling (UWW).“I received the notice on Saturday and I did not have enough time to respond properly as I was preparing for the competition and losing weight. They gave me 14 days to submit a detailed response, which I will. But my request was that I should not be prevented from competing during this period.The clash escalated when Vinesh released a confidential communication on social media on 3 July 2025 from the International Testing Agency (ITA), which handles the anti-doping process for the UWW. The mail sent by the testing officer Estelle Deloz clearly states that she is eligible to return to the competition from January 1, 2026.“I have been given written permission by the ITA to compete from January 1, 2026. If I had violated any rule, the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) would have given me a show-cause notice. Or they would have banned me. Or WADA would have given me a show-cause notice. I had left one of their premises. And I was in three assembly meetings at that time.” I also apologized to WADA for this. They gave me a clean chit. They told me that I can participate in any international event.TOI had earlier reported that Vinesh had complied with the withdrawal procedure set by the UWW and WADA and submitted the withdrawal document as early as June 2025. The wrestler revealed that she has already undergone two anti-doping tests since announcing her comeback on December 18, 2025 and both have been cleared.The federation later issued a statement saying that Vinesh was provided full security from the moment he arrived at the tournament venue. “As testified by everyone present, she was met by the authorities and informed of her ineligibility to attend as per the rules and regulations in place. She freely interacted with the media and was not stopped or restrained anywhere. Thereafter, she left the venue peacefully. From his arrival at Gonda to his departure from the venue, he was fully protected and assisted at every step.Looking for a place to train ahead of the women’s weigh-in scheduled between 5 pm and 7 pm on Monday, Vinesh found a warm-up area inside the venue only to find it locked, PTI added. “Can’t train now can you? Lock to khulwa do kam se kam (Now I can’t even train. At least tala to kholo)” she said in frustration.She then went to the SAI Khelo India Center hoping to find mats for training, but there were no mats available there either.“We are trying everything but they are not letting me wrestle. I have come here risking my life and my mind,” she said before leaving the venue.Despite the setback, Vinesh insists that she will continue to fight. “I am working honestly and truthfully. God knows I am clean. If I am right, He will give me strength. We will fight for our rights,” she said. It is learned that Vinesh, Rathi and their team left for Delhi after taking a late evening flight from Lucknow.
