With the Olympics just around the corner India’s preparation for the mega event took a blow after two Indian hopefuls, shooter Ravi Kumar and boxer Sumit Sangwan, have been tested positive for banned substances. The news has come as a shock to many as it is believed that international medal winners flunking dope test is rare in shooting and boxing.
According to a National Anti-Doping (NADA) official, Ravi Kumar, has tested positive for a beta-blocker. NADA further informed that traces of propranolol were found in Ravi’s urine sample that was collected during the selection trials at Delhi’s Karni Singh Shooting Range in June earlier this year. The officials further claimed that the drug found in Ravi’s sample falls under the ‘specified substance’ category decided by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). This is a good sign for Ravi as it is believed that the shooter will have some relief and may escape with some moderate sanction rather than facing a four-year ban. WADA has categorized the banned substance into two categories namely, ‘specified’ and ‘non-specified’. These categories determine that substance can enter an athlete’s body unintentionally.
According to reports during his hearing, Ravi Kumar said that he may have consumed the drug unknowingly as he did take medicine for migraine.
On the other hand, NADA has informed that boxer Sumit, who represented India in 2012 London Olympics in the 91 kg weight category, tested positive for acetazolamide, a diuretic and masking agent banned by WADA.
NADA has also revealed that a more than 150 Indian athletes have flunked the dope test in 2019 itself. Reacting on this news Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju has said that such incidents are very disturbing.
Rijiju also said that he in no way says that all 150 athletes who failed the dope test must have consumed the prohibited substances unintentionally, rather he believes there would be many who take such substances intentionally. The sports minister further added that there is need to educate and spread awareness among those players who don’t intent to cheat but were found doping because of lack of knowledge.
