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Pakistani wrestler Ali Asad has been stripped of his bronze medal from the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. The Pakistan Wrestling Federation confirmed the four-year ban and medal revocation following an investigation by the International Testing Agency (ITA).Asad's positive test was confirmed by the ITA, prompting the ruling this week. The wrestler waived his right to a hearing and failed to respond to the allegations within the stipulated deadline.This incident adds to a growing list of doping bans faced by Pakistani athletes in recent years. In May 2023, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) imposed four-year bans on four Pakistani weightlifters for anti-doping violations. Abdur Rehman, Sharjeel Butt, Ghulam Mustafa, and Farhan Amjad were suspended for refusing to provide samples to the ITA in November 2021.Despite appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), the suspensions were upheld. Top weightlifters Olympian Talha Talib and Abu Bakar Ghani also received two-year bans for using banned substances. Talib, who placed fifth in the Tokyo Olympics, remains banned until February 2025.The Pakistan Wrestling Federation and the IWF have expressed concern over the increasing number of doping cases involving Pakistani athletes. They have emphasized the importance of adhering to anti-doping regulations and promoting clean sport.The use of performance-enhancing drugs not only violates the principles of fair play but also poses significant health risks to athletes. The authorities are committed to combating doping and ensuring the integrity of sports competitions.

Indian middle-distance runner Parvej Khan, who recently gained recognition for his impressive performances in the NCAA circuit in the United States, has been provisionally suspended after failing a dope test. The 19-year-old faces a potential four-year ban if found guilty of doping.Khan's provisional suspension was confirmed by a source privy to the development. The date of commencement and the nature of the banned substance remain undisclosed. It is believed that his dope sample was collected during the National Inter-State Championships in Panchkula, where he competed for the first time since the National Inter-State Championships in Bhubaneswar in June 2023.Khan's suspension comes as a major setback for the young athlete, who had emerged as a rising star in Indian track and field. He became the first Indian to qualify for the final of a track event in the NCAA Championships earlier this year, representing the University of Florida on scholarship.Hailing from a humble farming family in Haryana, Khan's journey to the top has been marked by determination and hard work. He won the 1500m gold at the 2022 National Games and has consistently improved his personal bests.Khan's provisional suspension serves as a reminder of the importance of clean sport and the consequences of doping. The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) is responsible for enforcing anti-doping regulations in India and ensuring the integrity of sports competitions.The outcome of Khan's case will be closely watched by the Indian sporting community and beyond. If found guilty, he will face a significant setback in his career and will serve as a cautionary tale for other athletes tempted to engage in doping.

Iraqi Judoka Fails First Doping Test of Paris 2024 OlympicsThe International Testing Agency (ITA) has confirmed the first positive doping test of the 2024 Paris Olympics, involving Iraqi judoka Sajjad Sehen. The athlete tested positive for banned anabolic steroids methandienone and boldenone during an out-of-competition anti-doping control in Paris.The ITA revealed that Sehen's sample "returned an adverse analytical finding for the non-specified prohibited substances metandienone and boldenone." Both drugs are prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The sample was collected on Tuesday and the result was reported by the WADA-accredited laboratory of Paris on Thursday.The 28-year-old Sehen, a first-time Olympian, was scheduled to compete in the men's 81-kilogram class next week. However, he has been provisionally suspended until the resolution of the matter."This means that the athlete is prevented from competing, training, coaching, or participating in any activity during the Olympic Games Paris 2024," the ITA statement said.Herda Raouf, the manager of Iraq's delegation, stated that Sehen and his coach will be questioned by doping chiefs on Saturday. Raouf suggested that Sehen may have taken medication due to a recent surgical operation.Sehen has the right to challenge his provisional suspension at the Court of Arbitration for Sport and can also request an analysis of the B sample. The ITA manages an independent anti-doping program for the Paris Olympics on behalf of the International Olympic Committee.This incident highlights the importance of anti-doping measures in ensuring fair play and protecting the integrity of the Olympic Games. The ITA's swift action in detecting and reporting the positive test sends a strong message that doping will not be tolerated.

Surinamese sprinter Issamade Asinga has filed a lawsuit against the Gatorade Company, alleging that his recent doping ban was caused by contaminated "recovery gummies" provided by the brand. The 19-year-old Asinga was handed a four-year suspension by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) in May for a doping violation, resulting in the loss of his two South American Championship gold medals and his under-20 100 meters world record.In the lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court, Asinga claims that Gatorade provided him with the gummies a year ago, with packaging stating that they were "NSF Certified for Sport" and therefore free from banned substances. However, the lawsuit alleges that the gummies lacked the certification and were instead "made using shoddy manufacturing processes, and were contaminated with trace amounts of an illegal performance-enhancing drug."NSF is an independent, Michigan-based non-governmental organization that certifies products as free from substances banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Gatorade has denied the allegations, stating that the product in question is safe and that the claims made are false. The beverage company also claims that its products are FDA compliant and safe for athlete consumption, as validated by the AIU investigation.Asinga further alleges that Gatorade provided a sealed bottle from a different lot of gummies to AIU, "creating the false impression that the testing of this exemplar was relevant to Issam's case." Gatorade maintains that it provided a sealed container of gummies from the same lot after the AIU ruling and that the sample tested negative. Asinga argues that the banned drug, known as cardarine, would not have been detectable after that length of time.The sprinter has not competed since he was handed a provisional suspension ahead of last year's World Championships in Budapest. He is seeking economic damages for lost income, scholarship opportunities, and future earnings.

India's Top 400m Runner Deepanshi Suspended for DopingIndia's promising 400m runner Deepanshi has been suspended by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) after testing positive for anabolic steroids during the recent National Inter-State Athletics Championships in Panchkula, Haryana.Deepanshi, 21, had secured a silver medal in the event, clocking an impressive 52.01 seconds in the women's 400m final. However, her jubilation was short-lived as her in-competition dope sample, collected on June 27, returned positive results for banned substances.This incident marks the first doping violation from the National Inter-State Championships, which served as the final qualifying event for the upcoming Paris Olympics. Deepanshi's suspension has raised concerns about the sources of her doping substances and the nature of her training environment, as she does not train at the National camp.The use of anabolic steroids, which are synthetic hormones that promote muscle growth, is strictly prohibited in sports. They can enhance performance but also pose significant health risks, including liver damage, heart problems, and infertility.Deepanshi's suspension is a major setback for Indian athletics. She was considered one of the country's top prospects for the Paris Olympics and had been consistently improving her times. Her suspension serves as a reminder of the importance of clean sport and the consequences of doping.The NADA is investigating the case and will determine the appropriate sanctions against Deepanshi. The suspension is a blow to her career and raises questions about the integrity of Indian athletics. It is crucial for athletes to adhere to anti-doping regulations and maintain the highest standards of sportsmanship.

The Delhi Summer Athletic meet at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium concluded on Sunday with a significant number of athletes withdrawing from participation due to the presence of National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) officials.On Friday, the first day of the meet, several athletes either "Did Not Start" or "Did Not Finish" in various events, particularly in throwing events. NADA officials had arrived to collect samples, prompting many athletes to stay away.On Sunday, the exodus continued as more athletes pulled out across events. The women's steeplechase, women's hammer throw, and men's pole vault could not be conducted due to a lack of participants. In the men's hammer, only one athlete competed, while the lone participant in the women's hammer did not report.The men's triple jump saw no medallists as two jumpers withdrew and three registered 'no mark'. In discus, only half of the eight entrants took part. In men's 800m, six out of 19 participants did not start.The most significant withdrawals occurred in the men's 5,000m and boys U-18 1,000m. In 5,000m, only six of the 20 athletes competed, while the 1,000m race saw 14 DNS and three DNF in a field of 25. In women's 5,000m, five of the nine athletes pulled out.The Delhi Athletics Association (DAA), the organizers of the meet, stated that the results may be updated after receiving reports from NADA and the age verification committee. The result of the U18 shot put bronze medallist who evaded the testers has been withheld, and the boys' discus result has also been "withheld" due to complaints of overage.The meet was intended to select the Delhi team for the National Youth Athletics Championships in Chhattisgarh from June 15. The DAA had obtained undertakings from all participants with the names of their coaches, following the Athletics Federation of India's (AFI) announcement that coaches would also be punished if an athlete is suspended for doping.India has recorded the highest number of doping offenders in the world in 2022, according to a recent World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) report. India tested 3,865 samples that year, and 125 returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF). India is also the second worst country in doping cases among minors, as per a 10-year study conducted by WADA, behind Russia.

Doping Crackdown: AFI Punishes Coaches of Sanctioned AthletesIn a bid to curb the rising cases of doping in Indian athletics, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has implemented a stringent policy that holds coaches accountable for the actions of their athletes.Under the new policy, athletes will be required to disclose the names of their coaches, who must also register with the AFI. If an athlete is caught and punished for doping, the coach will face similar sanctions from the federation.AFI President Adille Sumariwalla emphasized the severity of the doping issue and the need for decisive action. He stated that the federation will recommend government departments to take action against coaches involved in doping."We will ban the coach and inform the Army, Navy, Air Force, and SAI. We will not let such coaches enter the stadium or accompany any team," Sumariwalla said.The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code provides for sanctions against individuals who assist or cover up doping violations. The AFI's policy aligns with this code, recognizing the role of coaches in preventing and combating doping.However, some coaches have expressed concerns about the policy. Amrish Kumar, who trains India's top steeplechaser Avinash Sable, believes that coaches should only be punished if it can be proven that they assisted in doping."You cannot just suspend a coach because the athlete has been caught and punished for doping," Kumar said. "The athletes are smart today and have nutritionists, physios, and so many people around them."Despite these concerns, Delhi's chief coach Dinesh Rawat supports the policy. He believes that firm steps are necessary to curb doping and that coaches have a responsibility to monitor their athletes' performance.In addition to the coaching crackdown, the AFI is also decentralizing training camps and introducing a new kitting partner, PUMA. The federation aims to create a more robust and transparent system to support Indian athletes and combat the scourge of doping.

American boxer Ryan Garcia's stunning victory over Devin Haney last month has been marred by allegations of doping. ESPN reported that Garcia tested positive for the banned substance Ostarine on the day before and the morning of the April 20 bout. The report also suggests that Garcia may have tested positive for another banned substance, 19-norandrosterone, although this result is unconfirmed.Ostarine is a performance-enhancing drug used to prevent muscle loss and improve lean body mass. It is commonly used in the treatment of women with breast cancer. Garcia's positive test results have raised questions about the legitimacy of his victory over Haney, who retained his WBC super-lightweight title.Garcia has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, claiming that the allegations are "fake news." He has suggested that a tainted herbal supplement may be responsible for the positive test result. However, the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA), which oversees drug-testing in boxing and mixed martial arts, has confirmed the authenticity of the test results.The allegations against Garcia have sent shockwaves through the boxing world. If proven true, they could result in Garcia facing a lengthy suspension and potentially losing his victory over Haney. The incident has also raised concerns about the prevalence of doping in boxing and the need for stricter drug-testing measures.Garcia's case is a reminder that even the most talented athletes are not immune to the temptation of using performance-enhancing drugs. It is essential for boxing authorities to continue to crack down on doping and ensure that the sport remains fair and competitive.

The Athletics Federation of India's (AFI) "no needle policy" has come under scrutiny after numerous used syringes were discovered at the main athletics stadium of the Sports Authority of India's center in Lucknow during the 22nd Junior National Federation Athletics Championship.The syringes were found scattered in the men's toilets, which are adjacent to the dope collection rooms at the venue. The identity of the athletes who used the syringes remains unknown, but their presence raises concerns about potential doping violations."We can't keep an eye on every athlete, especially when they lock the toilet doors," said a security guard outside the bathrooms on condition of anonymity. "It's not our responsibility to check every time an athlete comes out of the toilet."The discovery of the syringes on the first day of the prestigious event, which serves as a qualifying championship for the 21st Asian U20 Athletics Championships in Dubai, has shocked organizers."We have no idea how these syringes got into the men's toilet," said PK Srivastava, chief executive officer of the Uttar Pradesh Athletics Association. "We have a strict no-needle policy in athletics, but I will investigate this matter personally."Srivastava confirmed that the AFI has set up a dope control center at the venue, where a team of doctors is deputed for sample collection. A six-member NADA team led by BN Mishra is also stationed there."AFI has set up its dope controlling center at the venue, and so far, nine samples have been received on day one of the three-day championship," said Srivastava. "It's disheartening that some of our athletes still resort to such unethical practices."The presence of the syringes has cast a shadow over the championship and raised questions about the effectiveness of the AFI's anti-doping measures. The incident highlights the need for stricter enforcement of doping regulations and increased education for athletes on the dangers of performance-enhancing substances.