JOIN USDharambir falls into dope net
Even as the news of sprinter Dharambir Singh’s positive dope test trickled in, the Indian athletes quietly went ahead with their preparations in Rio.
Dharambir’s journey to Rio was halted in New Delhi after he reportedly failed to clear a dope test. The 200M runner had set a national record of 20.45 seconds to qualify for the Olympic Games in Bengaluru on July 11.
“We are yet to get information on the positive test,” said an AFI official here, pointing out that the case related to another athlete who was training outside the national camps. Earlier, shot-putter Inderjeet Singh, also a Rio-bound athlete, had tested positive for a steroid, ending his Olympic journey.
“Both Inderjeet and Dharambir are not part of the national camps. We cannot be blamed for their tests,” said the official. AFI had all along maintained that its campers are all clear when it comes to doping.
Dharambir had served a suspension after he evaded a dope test in 2012. Meanwhile, discus throwers Seema Antil, who created a stir following her decision to train in Russia, and Vikas Gowda arrived here on Wednesday. Vikas, who was eighth in the last edition of the Games, is back after suffering an elbow injury.
Dharambir, who became the first Indian male sprinter to qualify for the Olympics after 36 years, is believed to have tested positive for an anabolic steroid in his A sample taken by National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) during the Indian Grand Prix Meet in Bengaluru on July 11.
However, neither NADA nor the Athletics Federation of India confirmed whether the athlete had flunked a dope test.
The 27-year-old Haryana-lad was to leave for Rio on 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.Shot putter Inderjeet confirmatory B sample also returned positive for banned substances, virtually ending his hopes to compete in Rio.
The 28-year-old Inderjeet’s ‘A’ sample had returned positive for banned steroids androsterone and etiocholanolone on June 25 and now his B sample has also tested positive for the same substances, sources said.
Inderjeet has been provisionally suspended and served a second notice by the National Anti-Doping Agency.