The Indian Sprinter Dharambir Singh, who qualified for the 200m event at the Rio Games, has failed a drug test conducted by National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), sources say.The Sprinter had recently become the first Indian in 36 years to qualify for the 200m event at Olympics.
Singh was scheduled to travel to Rio yesterday to participate in the mega event but was asked to stay back over his alleged doping. Despite being sure about the failed test, it is believed that NADA is yet to inform AFI (Athletics Federation of India; Indian Apex Athletics Body) about Dharambir’s case. It is believed that the chanrges, if proved, it is will be curtains for Dharambir’s career as this is his second offense and under the doping code, it means a life ban be imposed.
27 year old Dharambir, who is the only sprinter in the Indian Rio camp, qualified for the Games when ran at the Indian Grand Prix Athletics event in Bangalore in July this year with a timing of 20.45 secs.
These cases are maligners for India, who are sending their largest ever contingent to Rio Games this year, only to be discovering one case too many of doping recently. In recent discovery of doping cases, Dharambir is the third Indian to be implicated by NADA after Narsingh Yadav and Inderjeet Singh. While discussing this one must not forget that NADA accepted wrestler Narsingh’s sabotage claims and cleared him of doping charges. The Indian anti-doping body though confirmed on Tuesday that Inderjeet’s Rio chances were bleak after the shot putter’s ‘B’ sample tested positive.
Furthering about Narsingh Yadav, once IOA has backed his claim at the Rio participation after getting cleared of the doping charges, Yadav’s is almost certain to join the Olympic bandwagon.