New Delhi, September 1, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought the Wrestling Federation of India’s (WFI) response to wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s challenge to show-cause notices and disciplinary proceedings initiated against her, while separately issuing notice on her plea seeking a transparent framework for women athletes returning to competition after pregnancy and maternity leave.
A single-judge Bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma did not formally issue notice in Phogat’s challenge to the disciplinary proceedings. Instead, the court asked the WFI to obtain instructions and listed the matter for further hearing on September 29.
Senior advocate Rajshekhar Rao, appearing for Phogat, said the wrestler was challenging show-cause notices issued by the WFI on May 9 and June 17. He argued that the proceedings formed part of what he described as a continuing pattern of arbitrary and mala fide action that had hindered Phogat’s return to competitive wrestling after childbirth.
Rao also pointed out that the court had earlier directed the WFI to adjudicate the May 9 notice, but the process had not been completed.
WFI counsel, however, said two hearings had been scheduled but Phogat had not appeared. The federation said a final opportunity had been granted, with the next hearing scheduled for Wednesday.
Rao raised an additional issue concerning the composition of the disciplinary committee and sought clarity on the mechanism being followed. The court subsequently asked the WFI to obtain instructions and fixed September 29 for further hearing.
Phogat has argued that the disciplinary proceedings were initiated despite the International Testing Agency clearing her to compete from January 1, 2026. She has alleged that the action is being used to obstruct her comeback following childbirth.
In a separate petition, Justice Sharma issued notice to the WFI, the Centre and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) over Phogat’s plea seeking a fair, transparent and structured mechanism for women athletes returning to competitive sport after pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum recovery. The matter has been listed for November 18.
Phogat has cited her own experience to argue that women athletes should not be disadvantaged in selection processes because pregnancy and maternity prevent them from competing for a period. She has challenged an eligibility framework that, according to her plea, relies on performances in tournaments held during the maternity period, thereby penalising athletes for their absence.
The petition seeks a structured policy providing women athletes with a fair pathway back into competitive sport.
The latest proceedings follow an earlier dispute between Phogat and the WFI over her participation in the 2026 Asian Games selection trials. In July, the Delhi High Court had closed as infructuous her petition challenging exclusion from the trials after she was allowed to participate pursuant to earlier court orders.
At that stage, Justice Sharma directed the WFI to decide within two weeks on the May 9 show-cause notice and place the outcome on record after communicating it to Phogat and the court. The WFI had also assured the court that she would receive a personal hearing before any final disciplinary decision.
The May 9 notice, running to 15 pages, accused the three-time Olympian of multiple instances of indiscipline, anti-doping violations and breaches of international wrestling regulations. The WFI had also declared her ineligible for WFI-sanctioned competitions until June 26.
Phogat subsequently challenged her exclusion from the May 30-31 Asian Games selection trials. A Division Bench comprising then Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia allowed her to participate, observing that motherhood could not be a ground for denying a woman athlete professional opportunities. The Bench also questioned the WFI’s revised eligibility criteria and ordered the selection process to be video-recorded under independent observers.
The WFI challenged that interim order in the Supreme Court. While allowing the selection trials to proceed, the apex court expressed reservations about certain observations made by the High Court at the interim stage.
After the trials concluded, the Supreme Court disposed of the WFI’s Special Leave Petition as infructuous, making it clear that its order did not affirm the High Court’s observations against the federation and that all issues remained open.
Phogat’s comeback bid ultimately ended at the Asian Games selection trials at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi on May 30 and 31. She lost 4-6 to Meenakshi Goyat in the women’s 53kg semifinals and failed to qualify for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
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