Kamal Ghorui
Wrestler Vinesh Phogat has been informed by the International Testing Agency (ITA) about a missed out-of-competition doping test from December 18, 2025. This is her first whereabouts failure in the past 12 months, news agency PTI reported.In a letter dated May 4, 2026, the ITA said the missed test has been recorded after reviewing her explanation submitted on January 19, 2026.The notice refers to an earlier letter sent on January 5, 2026, which had pointed out the missed test and asked for her response.The ITA clarified that this is not an anti-doping violation but a warning under the whereabouts rule. This rule requires athletes to be available for surprise testing.As per rules of United World Wrestling (UWW) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), three missed tests or filing failures within a year can lead to an anti-doping violation and a suspension of up to two years.The ITA said the failed attempt took place on December 18, 2025, when a Doping Control Officer (DCO) could not find Vinesh during her scheduled 60-minute testing window.Under the rules, athletes in the Registered Testing Pool (RTP) must give a one-hour daily slot between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. for testing without prior notice.The agency said Vinesh was attending the first winter session of the Haryana Assembly on that day. She had travelled from Bengaluru to Chandigarh, which affected her schedule. It also noted that she had recently had a child. During the visit, she informed the DCO that she was in Chandigarh for meetings.However, the ITA said she did not update her whereabouts details in time after the change in plan.It said athletes must update their details “as soon as possible” after any change, and before the one-hour testing window.The agency added that she did not use other options like SMS, email or mobile app to update her location on or before December 18.“In light of the above, the ITA finds that you were unable to establish that no negligent behaviour on your part caused or contributed to your failure,” the notice said, confirming that the missed test will be recorded.The ITA said this is her first whereabouts failure in a 12-month period.Vinesh has seven days from May 4 to ask for an administrative review if she believes the missed test was not due to negligence. If she does not do so, the decision will become final.This comes months after she announced her return to wrestling in December 2025 after stepping away following the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she was disqualified from the women’s 50kg final for being overweight.
