Pramod Bhagat Suspended for 18 Months

Indian para shuttler Pramod Bhagat has been suspended for 18 months by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) for failing to comply with anti-doping whereabouts regulations, effectively ruling him out of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Bhagat, the reigning gold medalist from the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, expressed his devastation, citing a technical glitch that led to the whereabouts failure as the reason for his suspension. Despite his appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), his case was dismissed, leaving him unable to defend his titles. Bhagat's coach lamented the loss of a potential medal for India, emphasizing Bhagat's fighting spirit. The suspension is set to last until September 1, 2025, and has been a significant setback for India's Paralympic aspirations. Bhagat, who holds multiple titles and a current world ranking of No. 3, faced this penalty despite having previously achieved notable success in para-badminton.