In a latest case of doping in India’s Rio 2016 Olympics contingent, a sprinter has failed a dope test and his participation in Rio Games has been cancelled, says a report in The Indian Express.
The news comes a day after shot-putter Inderjeet Singh failed a dope test. The name of the athlete has not been officially announced by National Anti-Doping Agency. But, it said that Dharambir Singh, who had qualified in the 200m sprint is the athlete who has failed a dope test.
“One Rio bound athlete’s ‘A’ sample has been tested positive for a banned substance. The athlete has been informed about the same a couple of days back,” Navin Agarwal, NADA director general, told The Indian Express.
Dharambir had qualified by clocking 20.45 seconds at the national meet in Bangalore, beating the Olympic qualifying mark of 20.50 seconds by .05 seconds. Dharambir became the first Indian athlete to qualify for the 200m Athletics event at the Olympic Games after a gap of 36 years.
This is the third case for India before the Olympics that a players has been tested positive. Earlier, wrestler Narsingh Yadav and shot-putter Inderjeet had been tested positive.
A report in The Times Of India said that India's dope shame in the Rio Olympics build-up continued with indications that 200m runner Dharambir Singh has returned positive for a banned substance in an in-competition test conducted last month.
“Dharambir, who became the first Indian male sprinter to qualify for the Olympics after 36 years, missed his flight to Rio last night, amid speculation that he had tested positive for an anabolic steroid in his A sample taken by National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) during the Indian Grand Prix Meet in Bangalore on July 11. However, neither NADA nor the Athletics Federation of India confirmed whether the athlete had flunked a dope test,” said the report.
The 27-year-old Haryana-lad was to leave for Rio yesterday but was told to stay back, according to sources. Sources said NADA has asked Dharambir whether he wants to get his B sample tested and he has seven days to get the procedure completed. If his B sample also tests positive, he is certain to miss the Olympics besides facing the prospect of an eight-year ban since this was his second dope offence.
