Wrestler Bajrang Punia's wait to grow longer as the Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused to grant any interim relief against his suspension by National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) for allegedly refusing to give his sample for dope-testing.
A bench of Justice Sanjeev Narula issued notice to NADA on the wrestler's plea against his provisional suspension. The matter will now be taken up in October.
Punia had approached the high court against the suspension denying the claims by NADA and said that he ready to give his sample even today. He further told the court that if he is unable to participate in the upcoming Senior World Wrestling Championships, it will be the end of his career.
Counsel appearing for Punia told the court that the wrestler never refused to give his sample. He said that Punia had only inquired NADA officials about status of his complaints regarding use of expired kits in the previous drug tests.
However, the high court refused interim relief stating that there was no plea for interim relief in the petition.
The Counsel appearing for NADA told the high court that a panel has already been constituted to look into the matter which will hold the final hearing. NADA refuted Punia's claims that he is being targeted and told the court that no Olympic level athlete can refuse the sample when the officials approach them.
NADA further told high court that it wants Punia to play for the country and such litigation will only cause more delay in the process.
Punia has further told the court that the Senior World Wrestling Championships will begin on October 28 in Albania and this is the last major event in which he can participate for the next two years. But, NADA's provisional suspension has made it impossible for him to participate in the trials for the championship.