Shot-Putter Inderjeet Singh’s B-Sample Also Tests Positive

Inderjeet Singh dealt with another major set back to his chances of boarding the flight for Rio.

Inderjeet Singh in action during the 15th IAAF World Championships at the National Stadium in Beijing in August. (Photo: Reuters)

Shot putter Inderjeet Singh’s confirmatory B sample also returned positive for banned substances, virtually ending his hopes to compete in the Rio Olympics.

28-year-old Inderjeet’s ‘A’ sample had returned positive for banned steroids androsterone and etiocholanolone on 25 June and now his B sample has also tested positive for the same substances. Inderjeet has been provisionally suspended and served a second notice by the National Anti-Doping Agency.

He will have to appear before the NADA Disciplinary Panel for a hearing and he will be given a chance to present his case before the panel.

Inderjeet Likely to Face 4-Year Ban

The out-of-competition test of Inderjeet was done on 22 June. After Inderjeet’s A sample tested positive, the NADA had asked the Punjab-born athlete, who had won a bronze in the 2014 Asian Games, if he wants to test his ‘B’ sample and if so, to do this within seven days.

Inderjeet had requested for the B sample test on Thursday and the result came out on Friday. As an Asian Games medallist, he now faces the prospect of being banned for four years under the new WADA Code. He is also virtually ruled out of the Rio Olympics which begins on 5 August, although athletics events start on 12 August.

Inderjeet had claimed it was a conspiracy against him and his sample has been tampered with. He is one of those athletes who does not train at the national camps and normally trains on his own with his personal coach.

Inderjeet was one of the first track and field athletes to qualify for the Rio Olympics as he made the cut in 2015. He had a training stint earlier in 2016 in the United States under funding of the Sports Ministry’s Target Olympic Podium (TOP) Scheme.

(With inputs from PTI.)