‘Conspiracy’, Says Shot Putter Inderjeet After Failing Dope Test

Reports suggest that the 28-year-old was caught using a banned steroid in an out-of-competition test on 22 June.

Inderjeet had a good 2015 as he won gold at the Asian championships, Asian Grand Prix and the World University Games. (Photo: AP)

India’s hope of winning a medal in the shot-put event at the upcoming Rio games has taken a serious hit with Haryana’s Inderjeet Singh failing a dope test conducted on June 22.

Since Singh’s ‘A sample’ has returned positive, the NADA has now asked the athlete if he wants to test his ‘B’ sample. It has to be done within seven days.

Inderjeet’s failed drug test compounds the Indian contingent’s problems, as earlier on Sunday news surfaced of wrestler Narsingh Yadav too failing a test conducted on 5 July.

While Inderjeet on his part has since released a short statement on his Facebook page claiming this was a ‘case of conspiracy’ and he was being targeted, a Times of India report suggests he had been “avoiding” getting tested by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), which raised suspicions about the athlete.

Sources said it was a “fancy-sounding” drug, though the name could not be ascertained.

Inderjeet is the reigning Asian champion in his event and was the first track and field athlete from India to qualify for the Games.

(Source: Times of India)