In a massive blow to India’s Commonwealth Games 2026 campaign, weightlifter Dilbagh Singh has been pulled from the national squad following a sanction that slashed the country’s athlete quota due to multiple Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) during the qualification window. India’s overall allocation in weightlifting was trimmed from 16 slots down to 11, adding to a long history of doping-related setbacks that have plagued the sport nationally.
ALSO READ: Shreyas Iyer tastes history, shatters MS Dhoni's mighty milestone in IND vs ZIM 1st T20I
India's weightlifting quota at CWG reduced due to dope violations
The Indian Weightlifting Federation had originally announced a 12-member squad led by Olympic silver-medallist Mirabai Chanu, only to be caught off guard when informed of the reduced headcount just a day prior. A federation source confirmed to PTI that the official notification regarding the quota drop to 11 came on Wednesday, forcing an immediate adjustment to the traveling party.
Dilbagh Singh withdraws due to injury
Ultimately, Dilbagh was selected as the lifter to be excluded, a decision made easier by an existing back injury that had kept him from training during the team's preparatory camp in Birmingham. Additionally, female weightlifter Vanshita Verma (86kg) was cited for an anti-doping violation committed during the qualifying period, further cementing the disciplinary cut imposed on the contingent.
ALSO READ: ICC announces date and venue for WTC 2025-27 final, this ground to host for 2nd time
Dilbagh Singh's withdrawal is merely the latest in a string of doping setbacks for Indian weightlifting ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Prior to his exit, N Ajith (71kg), Sairaj Pardeshi (88kg), and Harcharan Singh (110kg) were all handed bans, alongside women's lifter Vanshita Verma (86kg), who received a sanction for a anti-doping violation during the qualification period.
Meanwhile, India’s boxing squad has run into severe logistical troubles of its own upon arriving in Glasgow from their Belfast training camp. Nearly half of the team's luggage failed to arrive with them, leaving several athletes and staff—including Sakshi Chaudhary, world champion Jaismine Lamboria, Parveen Hooda, Jadumani Singh, Kapil Pokhariya, and head coach C. Kuttappa—without crucial training gear and their official outfits for Thursday's opening ceremony.
To complicate matters further ahead of Friday's opening bouts, women's coach Mandakani Chanu has been assigned a different hotel from the boxers.