The Delhi High Court has directed the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) to decide, within two weeks, the two show-cause notices issued to wrestler Vinesh Phogat, observing that uncertainty hanging over disciplinary proceedings can affect a sportsperson's mental preparedness ahead of competitions. Justice Amit Mahajan passed the order, dated October 29, on Phogat's petition challenging the notices, Live Law reported.

Source: Live Law

The court clarified that if the WFI decides the notices after the two-week window, that decision will remain in abeyance until the next date of hearing, January 20, 2027. It also issued notice to the WFI and the Centre on the petition and asked for their replies before the next hearing, ANI reported.

Source: ANI via LatestLY

What the notices allege

The two notices were issued on May 9 and June 17, 2026. They allege — as allegations, not findings — indiscipline and violations of anti-doping rules, and, according to the federation's position reported in court coverage, relate also to alleged misconduct during the Asian Games selection trials and to the six-month advance notice the WFI says United World Wrestling rules require from an athlete returning from retirement, which it says was not given.

Senior Advocate Rajshekhar Rao, appearing for Phogat, told the court she intends to compete in a national tournament scheduled around mid-December 2026, and that the pending notices had left her plans under uncertainty. Phogat's petition seeks quashing of the notices; coverage of the petition says she maintains she was cleared to compete from January 1, 2026, and that the federation's actions have impeded her comeback after maternity — a claim the WFI disputes through its notices.

Source: India Legal Live

There is at present no formal bar on Phogat's participation in events. The matter will be heard next on January 20, 2027, by which time the federation is expected to have placed its decision on the two notices on record.