AGENCIES
NEW DELHIInderjeet Singh, India's only male representative in shot put at the 2016 Rio Olympics, has failed a dope test, becoming the second athlete in the past two days to be tested positive for a banned substance.
According to reports, the 28-year-old's 'A' sample tested positive for two banned substances, androsterone and etiocholanolone, in an out-of-competition test conducted on June 22. The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) has notified the athlete and the Athletics Federation of India.
Inderjeet now has a week's time to respond and could choose to get his 'B' sample tested. If the 'B' sample also tests positive, he will miss the Rio Olympics, besides facing the prospect of being banned for four years under the new WADA Code.
NADA's director-general Navin Agarwal confirmed, without revealing the athlete's name, that one more Rio-bound competitor had tested positive. "The athlete will be given a choice to have his sample 'B' tested. The athlete's name can only be revealed when the panel review process is concluded," he told CNN News18.
Asked whether allegations on 'tampering with samples' were fair, Agarwal said that NADA would be open to discussing all allegations and reservations the athlete might have against the results. Like wrestler Narsingh Yadav, who defended himself after testing positive for a banned substance recently, Inderjeet also claimed that he was being framed.
"The system never supported me. I've worked hard to get here. I've pointed out the flaws in the system time and again. From Bhagat Singh to Inderjeet Singh, whoever speaks out is targeted, it seems. I've never taken any of these substance. It's a conspiracy to frame me ahead of the Olympics," he told CNN News18.
"I've spoken openly against the lack of funding and sponsorship to athletes in India. Perhaps they fear I would speak even more if I went on to win a medal in Rio. NADA has been on my case for the past few weeks, making me go through one test after another. I've gone through several dope tests across the world over the last year and never tested positive. I'm a man who is prepared to die for this country. I hope the nation stands behind me," he said.
Inderjeet achieved the Olympic qualification mark at the Federation Cup in Mangalore with a throw of 20.65 m in May last year, becoming the first Indian track and field athlete to do so. He won bronze in the 2014 Asian Games and gold in last year's Asian Athletics Championships in China.
