'Rules are rules': Global wrestling body UWW chief Nenad Lalovic on Vinesh Phogat's disqualification

Chandigarh, August 7

No amount of appealing by Indian officials is going to change the scenario on Vinesh Phogat's disqualification as world wrestling body United World Wrestling (UWW) chief Nenad Lalovic has said that “rules are rules and everyone has to respect them” .

In an interview with the Sportstar, Lalovic expressed sadness on the unfortunate turn of events that led to the disqualification of India’s Vinesh Phogat from the Paris Olympics.

Phogat was disqualified from the Olympics after being found overweight ahead of her women's 50kg final, leaving her medal-less within hours of coming close to an unparalleled gold.

“We have to respect the rules. I'm so sad that what happened to her (Vinesh). She was overweight very small one. But the rules are rules and everything is public. All the athletes are there and it's impossible to let someone to compete who does not make the weight,” Nenad Lalovic said in the interview.

“We want athletes to compete in their natural weight. This is when they make best performance”, he said.

The UWW head further said that it was impossible to give Vinesh the medal because she reached the final.

“Impossible. Because the brackets are changing, everything is changing. And anyway, the rules are rules. Everybody who goes to this... continues, they know they have a second way. I don't see anything that can be done. The competition continues, and I really don't see that it is possible,” Lalovic added.

Responding to a question in Sportstar interview, he ruled out reviewing the rules after Paris Olympics and insisted it will only be adhered to more strictly.

Meanwhile, Indian Olympic Association president PT Usha said that the Wrestling Federation of India has filed an appeal to UWW to reconsider the decision to disqualify Vinesh and IOA is following that up in the strongest possible manner.