Olympic Bronze to Year-Long Ban: WFI Suspends Aman Sehrawat Over Weight Breach

Bhubaneswar: In a stunning turn of events, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has imposed a one-year suspension on Paris Olympic bronze medallist Aman Sehrawat, citing a failure to meet weight requirements at the Senior World Wrestling Championships.

The Offense: 1.7 kg Over the 57 kg Limit

During the World Championships in Zagreb, Sehrawat—who was slated to compete in the men’s 57 kg freestyle category—was unable to make the weight cut. He was found to be 1.7 kg above the permissible limit during the official weigh-in, leading to immediate disqualification.

The WFI emphasized that it had provided him adequate lead time: he had joined the preparatory camp in Porec (Croatia) 18 days before his scheduled bout.

Show-Cause, Disciplinary Action & Sanctions

On September 23, 2025, the WFI issued a show-cause notice to Sehrawat, asking for an explanation for the lapse. He submitted a response on September 29, but the WFI’s Disciplinary Committee deemed it “unsatisfactory”, paving the way for the suspension decision.

The WFI’s formal letter states:

> “During the period of suspension, you are barred from participating in or associating with any activities organized or sanctioned by WFI … both at national and international levels.” 

Sehrawat’s coaching staff—identified as Jagmander Singh, Vinod, Virender, and Narender—have also been issued formal warnings. The federation asserts that oversight failures on their part contributed to the lapse in weight control.

WFI President Sanjay Singh remarked that the federation had offered Sehrawat a fair window to explain himself, but the response failed to satisfy the disciplinary standards.

Implications & Repercussions

The suspension is effective from September 23, 2025, and will keep Sehrawat out of all wrestling-related activities—domestic or international—until September 2026.

This ban could severely impact his momentum ahead of major tournaments. In particular, the 2026 Asian Games, slated for late 2026, may now slip out of his reach unless the decision is revised.

As a former Olympic medallist and one of India’s brightest wrestling prospects, the expectation was that he would adhere to the highest standards of discipline. The WFI’s decision underscores that even elite athletes will not be exempt from consequences for procedural violations.

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