New Delhi: Dope shame continued to rock the nation as news emerged on Wednesday that 200m sprinter Dharambir Singh has returned a positive result for banned substances in an in-competition dope test last month.
Sources at the Athletics Federation of India confirmed to this paper that Dharambir, who missed his flight to Rio Tuesday night, has tested positive for a banned stimulant and high testosterone levels in the sample taken by the National Anti-Doping Agency during the National inter-state Championships in Hyderabad last month. “We received the notice of his positive test on July 29. His testosterone levels are higher than permissible. He is under provisional suspension now,” the official said.
This being Dharambir’s second such offence, he faces the prospect of an eight-year ban. He was earlier stripped of his 100m gold medal at the national inter-state championships in 2012 for evading a mandatory dope test.
Dharambir became the first Indian male sprinter to qualify for the Olympics after 36 years during the Indian Grand Prix Meet in Bengaluru last month.
UWW gives green signal to Narsingh Yadav
Meanwhile, Narsingh Yadav took a firm step towards realising his Rio Olympic Games dream as the international body, United World Wrestling, on Wednesday gave a go ahead to the 74kg category wrestler following days of turmoil and legal battles.
Said the world body in a statement, “Narsingh Pancham Yadav is eligible to participate in any international competition from now on, including the Rio Olympic Games.”
