At the end of the year, the biggest doping scandal of the year 2023 has come to light. A record 25 athletes have been caught in doping at the National Games held in Goa from October 9 to November 25. Most of them are medal winners, including nine athletes.
7 players from the weightlifting contingent have failed in the test. There are also some international players among them. NADA has asked everyone to get B samples done as per Amar Ujala.
The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) has temporarily banned athletes caught in doping for steroids. The number is expected to increase by four to five players as testing by the National Dope Testing Laboratory is going on.
The organizers of the National Games and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) are sleepless due to such a large number of players being caught in dope.
Big names included in doping Scandal
Many big names including Vandana Gupta of Uttar Pradesh came positive in the dope test. Vandana Gupta of UP won gold in weightlifting.
Other athletes who have been caught in this doping scandal are Kamaljeet Kaur who won silver in 200 meters, Ajay Kumar who won bronze in 5000 meters, besides athletes Farman Ali, Praveen Kumar, V Neha, Harjodhvir Singh, boxer Bhawna, silver medallist cyclist Anita Devi.
Billiards player also positive
For the first time, a billiards player has also been caught in doping. Apart from athletics and weightlifting, two players from boxing, one each from cycling, wrestling, triathlon, netball, kabaddi, and swimming are stranded.
In 2015, 16 players were caught in dope in the Kerala National Games. Last year, 10 athletes were found dope positive in the National Games held in Gujarat. Among them was Commonwealth Games gold medalist Sanjita Chanu. He was banned for 4 years.
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