The Court of Arbitration for Sport‘s (CAS) hearing on Vinesh Phogat’s award of a silver medal in the women’s wrestling 50KG event has been rescheduled for August 16, 6PM Paris time, the sports court announced on Tuesday, which was previously scheduled.
The court announced on Tuesday that it will postpone the verdict in the case in which Phogat and the Indian Olympic Association have contested the decision of the International Olympic Committee and the United World Wrestling Federation.
“By application of Article 18 of the CAS Arbitration Rules for the Olympic Games, the President of the CAS Ad Hoc Division extends the time-limit for the Panel to give a decision until 16 August 2024 at 18h00 (Paris time),.” CAS’s ad-hoc division has said.
What is Article 18?
During the OG, the Panel must make a decision within 24 hours of the conclusion of the hearing or, if no hearing is held, the conclusion of the evidentiary proceedings, according to Article 20. In certain cases, the President or Deputy President of the CAS ADD may extend this time limit if circumstances necessitate. Outside of the OG period, the Panel shall make a decision in a reasonable time.
IOA had supported Vinesh in her appeal
The Indian Olympic Association supported Vinesh Phogat in her appeal to the CAS, the top athletic court, after she was disqualified from the gold medal match for weighing more than100 grams.
Back home in India, there was a significant outcry over the decision, with legends such as Sachin Tendulkar defending the wrestler and condemning it for ‘bending logic and sports sense’. Vinesh Phogat was receiving a lot of support not only in India, but also internationally, with legendary wrestler Jordan Burroughs leading a social media effort to bring her a silver medal.
