SILVER SILENCE

The Court of Arbitration of Sports has concluded its hearing in wrestler Vinesh Phogat's medal case and a verdict is expected sooner than later.

Vinesh was set to create history by becoming the first ever female wrestler from India to contest for gold medal but on the day of her bout, her weight was found to be 100gm more than the permissible limit.

Consequently, she was disqualified from the entire event, which meant she was not even entitled to the guaranteed silver medal.

Vinesh's lawyers-including the noted Harish Salve -argued before the CAS on Friday that the wrestler did not commit any fraud; nor did she try to manipulate or cheat the system.

The weight gain was probably a part of her body's natural recovery process and cannot be deemed a fraud, it was further reasoned.

Most important, it is the athlete's fundamental right to care for her body. Also, she has the right to replenish her body with necessary nutrients for recovery.