Another member of India's Relay team fails dope test, three excluded from CWG 2022 so far

A member of the Commonwealth Games bound 4X100 meters relay team has been removed from the team after failing the dope test. The name of the athlete however remains under wraps as no official is willing to reveal the offender.

"A member of the relay team bound for CWG has tested positive and she will be withdrawn," a top source told PTI without naming the athlete. With this new exclusion, the women’s relay team has no extra athletes to rely on in case of an injury.

Earlier, Dutee Chand, Hima Das, Srabani Nanda, Sekar Dhanalakshmi, NS Simi and MV Jilna were named into the Indian Athletics squad. Jina, however, was removed from the team as the Indian Olympic Association was allocated a quota of only 36 members. Later on, however, Jina was added to the team after Dhanalakshmi failed the dope test.

Triple jumper, Aishwarya Babu, another Indian athlete was dropped from the team after returning positive for banned drugs. It is reported that the new dope offender is from the late inclusions in the team but her name has not been confirmed yet.

Two para-athletes also fail dope test

This is not the end of dope failure in the Indian team. Para powerlifter Geeta and Para discus thrower Aneesh Kumar have also failed the dope tests. Geeta’s samples contained steroids while Kumar’s tested positive for diuretics and masking agent Hydrochlorothiazide.

Geeta has been removed from the team with a provisional suspension, while Kumar is expected to compete in the CWG 2022 as Hydrochlorothiazide is allowed under WADA Code.

A source from the Paralympic Committee of India said that the prohibited substance that was found in Kumar’s sample came from medicine he took for blood pressure.

The PCI source said, "Aneesh has informed the NADA that the substance found in his sample was due to the medicine he took for blood pressure.”

"Since he was not handed a provisional suspension, we are hoping that he will be cleared for CWG. However, Geeta cannot go for CWG," the source added.

The 2022 Commonwealth Games start on July 29th in Birmingham.