NEW DELHI: Pramod Bhagat, the reigning Paralympic badminton champion, has been handed an 18-month suspension for violating the Badminton World Federation’s (BWF) anti-doping whereabouts clause. This suspension, effective immediately, means Bhagat will miss the upcoming Paris Paralympics—a significant blow to India’s medal prospects.
The whereabouts clause is a critical component of anti-doping regulations, requiring athletes to provide detailed information about their locations for out-of-competition testing. Failure to comply with this requirement, as in Bhagat’s case, can result in severe penalties.
“On March 1, 2024, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) Anti-Doping Division found Bhagat in breach of BWF anti-doping regulations for committing three whereabouts failures within 12 months,” the BWF said in a statement. “Bhagat, an SL3 athlete, appealed the decision to the CAS Appeals Division. On July 29, 2024, the CAS Appeals Division dismissed Bhagat’s appeal and upheld the original decision. His period of ineligibility is now in effect.”
Bhagat’s suspension will last until September 1, 2025.
“It is extremely sad and unfortunate. He was a sure shot medal for India at the Paralympics, but he is a fighter, and I am sure he will come back stronger,” Indian para-badminton head coach Gaurav Khanna told PTI.
Pramod Bhagat has been a cornerstone of Indian para-sports, particularly in para-badminton. His career, marked by significant achievements, includes a gold medal in the men’s singles SL3 category at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Bhagat has also secured multiple gold medals at the World Championships and Asian Para Games, solidifying India’s prominence in global para-badminton.
The 36-year-old shuttler’s suspension is a significant setback, but his resilience and past successes suggest that he may return stronger in the future.
