Wrestling's global governing body UWW backs WFI in Vinesh Phogat standoff

GONDA: In the ongoing standoff between Vinesh Phogat and the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), the sport’s global governing body, United World Wrestling (UWW), has reportedly backed the Indian federation’s authority to decide on the wrestler’s future participation and any disciplinary proceedings.According to messages accessed by TOI, UWW president Nenad Lalovic informed the WFI that, as the national federation, it was well within its rights to seek explanations from Vinesh and take any action it deemed appropriate after reviewing her response to the show-cause notice issued last Saturday. The WFI’s notice to Vinesh raised disciplinary and doping-related concerns, including alleged violations linked to retirement and return-to-competition regulations under UWW rules. The federation has barred her from participating in WFI events and competitions until June 26, 2026. Lalovic is understood to have stated that the WFI could legitimately question Vinesh on issues it considered important before permitting her return to competitive wrestling.Vinesh later shared a confidential email from the International Testing Agency (ITA), which stated that she was eligible to return to competition from Jan 1, 2026.