Five members of the India's Commonwealth Games-bound (CWG) contingent have failed the dope test. No official has confirmed the name of the dope offenders. The list of five athletes include three para-athletes.
Initially, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) had named Dutee Chand, Hima Das, Srabani Nanda, NS Simi, Sekar Dhanalakshmi and MV Jilna in the 37-member Indian athletics squad. However, Jilna had to be withdrawn from the team as Indian Olympic Association was allocated a quota of 36 athletes.
Eventually, Jilna was added to the squad as replacement after Dhanalakshmi failed dope tests. It has not been confirmed but reportedly the dope offender is a late inclusion in the squad.
Apart from Dhanalakshmi, triple jumper Aishwarya Babu was also dropped from the Indian team after testing positive for banned drugs. While Dhanalakshmi's dope samples showed she used an anabolic steroid, in Aishwarya's samples, Ostarine was found. These samples of the triple jumper were taken on June 13 and 14 during the National Inter-State Championships in Chennai.
The two para athletes who flunked the dope test are discus thrower Aneesh Kumar and powerlifter Geeta. In the dope samples collected by the NADA officials, Geeta tested positive for anabolic steroid whereas Kumar's sample had diuretics and masking agent Hydrochlorothiazide.
Following the reports, Geeta is facing a provisional suspension. The power lifter will not feature in CWG games. Kumar was not handed a provisional suspension as the specified substance was under the WADA code. Apparently, the substance Kumar consumed was in the form of a medicine for blood pressure. However, he did not apply for prior Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE).
