Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist freestyle wrestler Bajrang Punia reiterated that he didn't refused to give dope test and it was NADA which failed to give answers to his query on sending expired kits for dope test. Punia has been provisionally suspended by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) for failing to provide a urine sample during the trials held in Sonipat on March 10. Bajrang Punia Suspended By United World Wrestling, Wrestler Cancels Foreign Trip Approved by SAI for Training.
The freestyle wrestler, who competes in the 65-kg weight category, on Friday reiterated his stance in a long post on 'X', and said NADA did not provide an answer to any of his communications, demanding an explanation on sending an expired testing kits, adding that he informed officials he would give his sample upon "receiving such explanation from them."
Bajrang Punia Official Tweet
This is to clarify that, I have at no stage refused to give my sample for doping control. On 10 March 2024, when I was approached by alleged doping control officials, I merely reminded them that the last two times they came to collect my sample, they had gotten expired kits once…
— Bajrang Punia 🇮🇳 (@BajrangPunia) May 10, 2024
Following reports of his provisional suspension order, the wrestler clarified that he never "refused to give his sample" and requested NADA officials for a response about the expired kit which they had sent to collect my sample.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 10, 2024 03:54 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).