Tokyo 2020 gold medallist, Pramod Bhagat is set to miss the Paris Paralympics after being suspended for 18 months, due to his whereabouts failure, as per a statement released by BWF.

The World No.2 para-shuttler committed three whereabouts failures and was sanctioned by the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) Anti-Doping Division.

“In 1 March 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.

“Bhagat, an SL3 athlete, appealed this decision to the CAS Appeals Division.

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

The premier Indian para-shuttler defeated his British counter-part Daniel Bethell 21-14, 21-17 in straight games to clinch the SL3 men’s singles gold medal event at Tokyo 2020, becoming the first Indian to clinch a top podium finish in the badminton contingent. He has six World Championships gold medals, two silver, and three bronze across singles and doubles events besides clinching two gold and four bronze at the Asian Para Games.

He had started playing badminton at the age of 15 after developing a fascination of the sport. At the age of five years old, he developed polio which affected his left leg, developing a disability.