Vinesh Phogat’s Appeal For Silver Medal Dismissed

PARIS, (REUTERS) – The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s appeal against disqualification from the Paris Olympics after she failed to make weight for her women’s 50kg freestyle final last week.

Phogat was set to face American Sarah Hildebrandt for the gold medal on August 7 but was found 3.5 oz overweight despite starving herself and spending hours in a sauna the previous night to cut down to her competition weight.

The disqualification meant Phogat did not receive a medal and she filed an appeal in sport’s highest court challenging the decision of governing body United World Wrestling.

She sought a ruling awarding her a shared silver medal but those hopes faded after the CAS decision.

Cuba’s Yusneylys Guzman Lopez replaced Phogat in the final, which Hildebrandt won 3-0 to take the gold.

An emotional Phogat had said after the disqualification that she would retire from wrestling.

After the announcement of the dismissal of her application Phogat posted a picture of her laying down on a mat with her hands covering her eyes, as if conveying an emotion of distress.

According to the Indian Olympic Association it is “exploring further legal options.”