IOA Refutes Reports Claiming Three-year Ban on Wrestler Antim Panghal For Indiscipline –

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has strongly reacted to the reposts claiming a 3-year ban on wrestler Antim Panghal on Thursday. News Agency PTI had initially reported that the young wrestler will likely be banned on disciplinary grounds. However, the IOA refuted via a social media post, asking the media to check with the association leadership before reporting such issues.

Earlier, it was reported that Panghal was deported from Paris with her entire entourage for a major disciplinary breach where the young wrestler handed her official accreditation card to her sister who was caught by security while leaving the Games Village.

Panghal had crashed out of the Olympics after losing her opening bout in the women’s 53kg category on Wednesday. Later, the Indian Olympic Association decided to send her and her support staff back after the disciplinary breach was brought to its notice by the French authorities.

“The Indian Olympic Association has decided to fly wrestler Antim and her support staff back after a disciplinary breach was brought to IOA’s notice by the French authorities,” an IOA statement said.

While IOA did not share what the disciplinary breach was, a source shared the details with PTI.

“Instead of heading to the Games Village, she reached the hotel where her coach Bhagat Singh and sparring partner Vikas, who is actually her coach, were staying. Antim asked her sister to go to the Games Village and come back with her belongings. Her sister was caught for impersonation and was taken to a police station to record her statement,” said the source.

The 19-year-old U20 world champion Antim was also called by police to record her statement. If that was not enough, Antim’s personal support staff – Vikas & Bhagat – travelled in an inebriated state in a taxi and refused to pay the driver, who then called police.

(With PTI Inputs)

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