Delhi High Court seeks WFI's stand on Vinesh Phogat's plea against disciplinary action

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought the Wrestling Federation of India’s (WFI) stand on a plea filed by wrestler Vinesh Phogat challenging the show-cause notices and the disciplinary proceedings initiated against her. 

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said that she was not issuing formal notice in the case. The Court asked the WFI counsel to obtain instructions by September 29, when the matter will be heard next. 

Phogat’s case is that the two notices issued to her on May 9 and June 17 are part of a continuing pattern of arbitrary and mala fide action by WFI that has obstructed her return to competitive wrestling after maternity.

She has argued that WFI acted against her despite the International Testing Agency having cleared her to compete from January 1, 2026.

“The show cause notices and consequential proceedings constitute a continuing impediment consequential proceedings constitute a continuing impediment to the petitioner’s return to elite competition and have the to the petitioner’s return to elite competition and have the potential to prejudice her eligibility, nomination and potential to prejudice her eligibility, nomination and participation in forthcoming competitions,” Phogat stated in her plea. 

The Court today also heard a separate plea filed by the Olympian seeking directions to the WFI to implement a fair, transparent and structured framework governing the return of women athletes to competitive sport following pregnancy, childbirth and post-partum recovery. 

Phogat cited her own example, stating that upon resuming her wrestling career after childbirth, she was made to re-enter the competitive pathway without any accommodation for the period she was unable to compete due to maternity. 

According to this plea, the eligibility framework relied on performances in tournaments held during the maternity period, effectively penalising her for the absence, rather than providing an alternative route back into competition.

Justice Sharma today issued notice to the WFI, Central government and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on this plea and said that the case will be heard next in November. 

Senior Advocate Rajshekhar Rao argued Phogat’s case. The petitions were filed through advocates Aashita Khanna, Ritwik Prakash and Neil M Goswami.