Paris — Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the women’s 50kg freestyle final at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday after weighing in 100g above the allowed limit for her category. Phogat, whose natural weight ranges between 55kg and 56kg, took extreme measures to shed the necessary kilos to compete in the 50kg class, according to the chief medical officer of the Indian delegation.
In a statement last week, Phogat announced her retirement from wrestling. “Wrestling won and I lost. My dreams are shattered. I don’t have any more strength,” she wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “Goodbye wrestling 2001-2024. I will always be indebted to you all. I am sorry.”
One of Phogat’s teammates revealed that she had endured a week of near-starvation, along with severe restrictions on her water intake, to meet the weight requirement. Phogat’s preferred event was the 53kg category, but while she was recovering from an injury, her compatriot Antim Panghal secured the quota for that class. Phogat then faced a difficult decision: either compete in the heavier category, where she would be up against larger opponents, or drop down to the 50kg class, which required her to lose nearly 6kg in a short period.
The Pressure of Weight Categories in Olympic Sports
In the Olympics, several sports are divided into weight categories, including wrestling, boxing, taekwondo, judo, and weightlifting. These categories are designed to ensure that athletes compete against opponents of similar size. Wrestling at the Paris Olympics featured six weight classes for women and 12 for men. According to international rules, athletes undergo a weigh-in each morning, and they are allowed multiple attempts to make the required weight. Failure to meet the weight results in disqualification.
The Challenges of Cutting Weight
Weight cutting is a common practice among athletes competing in weight category sports. Many athletes choose to compete in a category lower than their natural weight to gain an advantage by facing lighter opponents. The process typically involves severe restrictions on food and water intake, combined with activities that promote sweating, such as intense training or time in a sauna.
“The weight-cutting process involves a calculated restriction of food and water intake,” explained Dinshaw Paudiwala, the chief medical officer of the Indian delegation. “Athletes also sweat it out through exercise and sauna sessions.”
However, such drastic measures can lead to significant weakness, which is detrimental to athletic performance. To counteract this, athletes often consume high-energy foods after the weigh-in to replenish their bodies before competition.
In Phogat’s case, despite consuming water before her three bouts on Tuesday to prevent dehydration, her weight increased more than expected. This forced her team to take extreme measures overnight in an attempt to reduce her weight, but these efforts ultimately failed.
“We tried everything, from cutting her hair to shortening her clothes, but despite our best efforts, we couldn’t make the weight,” Paudiwala said after Phogat’s disqualification.
The Health Risks of Weight Cutting
The extreme measures athletes take to lose weight rapidly can have serious health consequences. Medical experts caution against methods such as inducing vomiting, using laxatives, or taking diet pills to drop weight quickly. Additionally, the World Anti-Doping Agency bans all diuretics and masking agents.
In 2022, the Australian Institute of Sport issued guidelines highlighting the dangers of weight cutting, particularly for female athletes. The guidelines noted that hormonal variations during the menstrual cycle can significantly impact weight management and that women are more susceptible to the adverse health effects of sustained dietary restrictions and overtraining. These risks include eating disorders, poor bone density, and hormonal imbalances.
Tragic Outcomes: Deaths Linked to Weight Cutting
Weight cutting has, in some cases, led to fatal consequences. In 2015, 21-year-old Chinese mixed martial artist Yang Jian Bing died from complications related to a weight cut. Similarly, in 1997, University of Michigan wrestler Jeff Reese died of kidney failure and heart malfunction while wearing a rubber suit and exercising on a stationary bike to lose weight.
These tragic incidents have prompted organizations like the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the U.S. to implement stricter rules governing weight loss practices for collegiate athletes.
As Vinesh Phogat’s case underscores, the intense pressure to meet weight requirements in competitive sports can push athletes to dangerous extremes, with severe consequences for their health and well-being.
