However, Bach also raised concerns about the potential consequences of making exceptions in specific cases, questioning where the boundaries would be set if minor allowances were granted in particular circumstances.He emphasized the need for consistency in the application of rules and regulations across all athletes and situations.
The 29-year-old Vinesh faced disqualification prior to her scheduled gold medal bout in the 50kg category on Wednesday due to being 100gm over the weight limit. Following the disqualification, she submitted an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), requesting that she be granted a shared silver medal.
“I must say, I have a certain understanding for the wrestler; it’s clearly a human touch,” said Bach, as quoted by PTI, during an IOC media conference in Paris.
“Now, it’s (appeal) in CAS. We will, at the end, follow the CAS decision. But, again, the international (wrestling) federation, they have to apply their interpretation, their rules. This is their responsibility,” he added.
Asked if two silver medals could be awarded in a weight category, Bach said, “No, if you ask in such a general way. But allow me to comment on this individual case.
“There the regulations of the international federation have to be followed and the international federation, United World Wrestling (UWW), was taking this decision.”
Bach acknowledged that being 100 grams overweight might seem minimal to an outsider but questioned whether such a leniency would be acceptable in a track event, where results can be determined by just one thousandth of a second.
“Looking at the federation or anybody to take such a decision, when and where do you make the cut? Do you say with 100gms, we give it but with 102(gms), we don’t give it anymore?
“What do you do then in sports where you have differences of one-thousandths of a second (in track events). Do you also then apply such deliberations?,” he added.
Vinesh and her support staff went to great lengths to get her weight within the prescribed limit.
They resorted to extreme measures such as cutting her hair, restricting her food and liquid intake, and spending an entire night working out to shed the extra weight.
As a result of these drastic steps, she ended up needing an IV drip at the Games Village polyclinic due to severe dehydration.
When announcing her retirement, Vinesh expressed that she no longer had the strength to continue.