August 13th 2024.
Pramod Bhagat, the reigning champion in badminton, expressed his disappointment at not being able to participate in the upcoming Paralympic Games in Paris. His 18-month suspension, due to violations of anti-doping regulations, was confirmed by the Badminton World Federation on Tuesday. This means that he will also miss the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, as the suspension is now in effect.
The Court of Arbitration of Sport Anti-Doping Division, in their ruling on March 1, found Bhagat guilty of three whereabouts failures within a span of 12 months. In response, Bhagat took to social media to express his sadness and clarify that the suspension was a result of technical issues rather than any intentional wrongdoing on his part.
Despite appealing the decision to the CAS Appeals Division, Bhagat's suspension was upheld, leaving him unable to participate in the upcoming games. He and his team have been actively working to resolve the matter, but unfortunately, they were unable to do so in time for the Paralympic Games.
While Bhagat and his team respect the decision of WADA and CAS, it has been a difficult time for the athlete, who has always competed with integrity. He has been a consistent performer, having recently retained his gold at the BWF Para-Badminton World Championships in Thailand. This win not only made him the first para-athlete to win three consecutive gold medals in the championships but also equalled the record of Chinese legend Lin Dan's five titles.
Bhagat's gold medal streak in the BWF Para-Badminton World Championships began in 2009 and continued in 2015, 2019, 2022, and 2024. In addition to these achievements, he has an impressive tally of 14 medals in various categories, including six golds, three silvers, and five bronzes. As he looks towards the future, Bhagat remains determined to continue competing and make his country proud once again.
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