Paris Paralympics 2024: Shuttler Pramod Bhagat suspended for 18 months. Here is why

Paris Paralympics 2024: Tokyo gold medallist para shuttler Pramod Bhagat has been suspended for 18 months due to whereabouts failure and will miss the Paris Paralympic Games, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) said on Tuesday.

Bhagat falls under the SL3 category, which has “athletes competing standing with a lower limb impairment and balance problems walking or running,” as stated by the Paralympic Classification of Paris Paralympics 2024.

According to a statement by the BWF, Pramod Bhagat was found breaching the committee's anti-doping regulations. Within 12 months, Bhagat had three ‘whereabouts failures’ against him.

“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,” BWF said in a statement, reported the PTI.

The Paralympic shuttler had further appealed this decision to the CAS Appeals Division. The plea was, however, dismissed later, and Bhagat's ineligibility continues to be in effect, the PTI report said.

“On July 29 2024, the CAS Appeals Division dismissed Bhagat’s appeal and confirmed the CAS Anti-Doping Division decision of March 1 2024. His period of ineligibility is now in effect,” the statement added.

Pramod Bhagat's win at the Tokyo Paralympics

Pramod Bhagat won a gold medal at the Tokyo Paralympics in the men's singles SL3 category, defeating Daniel Bethell of Great Britain in the final.

The game lasted for about an hour and 40 minutes and saw the 35-year-old Bhagat beat his arch-rival in a gruelling contest of 14-21, 21-15, 21-15.

In the process, Bhagat 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 for the global championships from the 2013 campaign.