 "Setback for Olympic hopeful DP Manu after javelin thrower tests positive for banned substance")
Indian javelin thrower and Olympic hopeful DP Manu has been provisionally suspended by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) after testing positive for a banned substance.
Manu’s positive test for an anabolic steroid had come during the Indian Grand Prix that took place in April, a source close to the development confirmed to PTI.
Manu, who had competed alongside Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra and Asian Games silver medallist Kishore Jena in last year’s World Championships, had been asked to stay away from competitions by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) on NADA’s instructions.
The 24-year-old athlete from Belur, Karnataka, who had won silver in the 2023 Asian Championships, was widely expected to make the cut for the upcoming Paris Olympics through world ranking quote but will end up missing the event following the doping setback.
He was in the initial entry list for the National Inter-State Championships which began on Thursday in Panchkula, Haryana, but his name has been dropped from the updated roster.
AFI president Adille Sumariwalla told PTI that NADA has asked the federation to stop Manu from competitions but he did not confirm whether the athlete has committed a doping offence.
“There could be something like that, but we still don’t know what is the actual thing. There was a phone call to AFI office (from the NADA) yesterday that he (Manu) be stopped from competitions,” Sumariwalla said.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“Otherwise there are no details (on what kind of possible violation). I think the athlete himself (DP Manu) is finding out from the NADA what is the exact thing.”
Manu finished second behind Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra with a throw of 82.06m in the Federation Cup from 15 to 19 May in Bhubaneswar. He later won gold in Taiwan Athletics Open in Taipei City on 1 June with a throw of 81.58m.
Manu was 15th in the World Athletics Road to Paris list and on course to qualify for Paris Olympics as 32 athletes will compete in the men’s javelin throw event. The qualification deadline is 30 June.
Chopra and Kishore Jena have already secured automatic qualification for the Olympics after breaching the entry standard of 85.50m.
A country can have a maximum of three athletes in an Olympics track and field event.
With PTI inputs
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