diff --git a/gateway/platforms/telegram.py b/gateway/platforms/telegram.py
index 7b13cbc33dc..1e3ac5728d4 100644
--- a/gateway/platforms/telegram.py
+++ b/gateway/platforms/telegram.py
@@ -429,6 +429,13 @@ class TelegramAdapter(BasePlatformAdapter):
         self._polling_conflict_count: int = 0
         self._polling_network_error_count: int = 0
         self._polling_error_callback_ref = None
+        # After sustained reconnect storms the PTB httpx pool can return
+        # SendResult(success=True) for sends that never actually transmit.
+        # _handle_polling_network_error sets this; _verify_polling_after_reconnect
+        # clears it once getMe() confirms the Bot client is healthy.
+        # While True, send() short-circuits to a failure so callers
+        # (cron live-adapter branch) fall through to standalone delivery.
+        self._send_path_degraded: bool = False
         # DM Topics: map of topic_name -> message_thread_id (populated at startup)
         self._dm_topics: Dict[str, int] = {}
         # Track forum chats where we've already registered bot commands
@@ -874,6 +881,7 @@ class TelegramAdapter(BasePlatformAdapter):
         MAX_DELAY = 60
 
         self._polling_network_error_count += 1
+        self._send_path_degraded = True
         attempt = self._polling_network_error_count
 
         if attempt > MAX_NETWORK_RETRIES:
@@ -971,6 +979,7 @@ class TelegramAdapter(BasePlatformAdapter):
 
         try:
             await asyncio.wait_for(self._app.bot.get_me(), PROBE_TIMEOUT)
+            self._send_path_degraded = False
         except Exception as probe_err:
             logger.warning(
                 "[%s] Polling heartbeat probe failed %ds after reconnect: %s",
@@ -1683,7 +1692,11 @@ class TelegramAdapter(BasePlatformAdapter):
         """Send a message to a Telegram chat."""
         if not self._bot:
             return SendResult(success=False, error="Not connected")
-        
+
+        # getattr() — tests build adapters via object.__new__() (no __init__).
+        if getattr(self, "_send_path_degraded", False):
+            return SendResult(success=False, error="send_path_degraded", retryable=True)
+
         # Skip whitespace-only text to prevent Telegram 400 empty-text errors.
         if not content or not content.strip():
             return SendResult(success=True, message_id=None)
diff --git a/tests/gateway/test_telegram_send_path_health.py b/tests/gateway/test_telegram_send_path_health.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..940633224e4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/gateway/test_telegram_send_path_health.py
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+"""TelegramAdapter send-path health gating after reconnect storms.
+
+After sustained Bad Gateway / TimedOut reconnect cycles, the PTB httpx client
+can enter a wedged state where ``bot.send_message()`` returns a valid Message
+but nothing reaches the recipient.  ``_send_path_degraded`` short-circuits
+``send()`` so cron's live-adapter branch falls through to standalone HTTP.
+"""
+import sys
+import types
+from unittest.mock import AsyncMock, MagicMock, patch
+
+import pytest
+
+from gateway.config import PlatformConfig
+
+
+def _ensure_telegram_mock():
+    if "telegram" in sys.modules and hasattr(sys.modules["telegram"], "__file__"):
+        return
+    mod = MagicMock()
+    mod.error.NetworkError = type("NetworkError", (OSError,), {})
+    mod.error.TimedOut = type("TimedOut", (OSError,), {})
+    mod.error.BadRequest = type("BadRequest", (Exception,), {})
+    for name in ("telegram", "telegram.ext", "telegram.constants", "telegram.request"):
+        sys.modules.setdefault(name, mod)
+    sys.modules.setdefault("telegram.error", mod.error)
+
+
+_ensure_telegram_mock()
+
+from gateway.platforms.telegram import TelegramAdapter  # noqa: E402
+
+
+def _make_adapter() -> TelegramAdapter:
+    adapter = TelegramAdapter(PlatformConfig(enabled=True, token="***"))
+    adapter._bot = MagicMock()
+    adapter._bot.send_message = AsyncMock(return_value=MagicMock(message_id=42))
+    return adapter
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_send_succeeds_when_path_healthy():
+    """Healthy adapter delivers normally; send_message is called."""
+    adapter = _make_adapter()
+    assert adapter._send_path_degraded is False
+
+    result = await adapter.send("123", "hello")
+
+    assert result.success is True
+    adapter._bot.send_message.assert_awaited()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_send_short_circuits_when_path_degraded():
+    """Degraded adapter returns failure WITHOUT calling send_message,
+    so cron's live-adapter branch falls through to standalone HTTP."""
+    adapter = _make_adapter()
+    adapter._send_path_degraded = True
+
+    result = await adapter.send("123", "hello")
+
+    assert result.success is False
+    assert result.error == "send_path_degraded"
+    assert result.retryable is True
+    adapter._bot.send_message.assert_not_awaited()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_reconnect_storm_sets_and_heartbeat_clears_flag(monkeypatch):
+    """_handle_polling_network_error sets the flag; a successful heartbeat
+    probe in _verify_polling_after_reconnect clears it."""
+    adapter = _make_adapter()
+    adapter._app = MagicMock()
+    adapter._app.updater = MagicMock()
+    adapter._app.updater.running = True
+    adapter._app.updater.stop = AsyncMock()
+    adapter._app.updater.start_polling = AsyncMock()
+    adapter._app.bot = MagicMock()
+    adapter._app.bot.get_me = AsyncMock(return_value=MagicMock())
+    adapter._polling_error_callback_ref = AsyncMock()
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        "gateway.platforms.telegram.Update", MagicMock(ALL_TYPES=[])
+    )
+
+    await adapter._handle_polling_network_error(OSError("Bad Gateway"))
+    assert adapter._send_path_degraded is True
+
+    with patch("gateway.platforms.telegram.asyncio.sleep", new_callable=AsyncMock):
+        await adapter._verify_polling_after_reconnect()
+    assert adapter._send_path_degraded is False