Pramod Bhagat Suspended For 18 Months

Paris: Odisha’s Pramod Bhagat, who won a Gold medal in badminton singles for India in Tokyo Paralympics, will not be able to participate in Paris Paralympics 2024.

The ace badminton player has been suspended by the by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) for a period of 18 months for breaching the anti-doping regulations. As a result of the suspension, Pramod will miss the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

The statement issued by the BFW stated that on March 1, 2024, the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) Anti-Doping Division found Bhagat in breach of the BWF anti-doping regulations for committing three whereabouts failures within 12 months.

It further stated that Bhagat appealed against the decision to the CAS Appeals Division. But on July 29, 2024, the CAS Appeals Division dismissed the Bhagat’s appeal and confirmed the CAS Anti-Doping Division decision of 18 months suspension on March 1, 2024. Worth mentioning that Bhagat won a gold medal at the Tokyo Paralympics in men’s singles SL3 category, beating Daniel Bethell of Great Britain in the final 14-21, 21-15, 21-15.

But that is not all. The 35-year-old para shuttler from Odisha also won his fourth singles world title, having previously won the same medal thrice in 2015, 2019, and 2022. He also has a men’s doubles Gold medal to his name at the global championships from the 2013 campaign. However, due to the BWI suspension, Pramod will not be able to participate in Paris Paralympics 2024 and can’t defend his title.