Inadvertant intake, says shooter Ravi; boxer Sangwan mum

New Delhi, December 11

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Indian sport is reeling after two prominent sportspersons, a shooter and a boxer, tested positive for prohibited substances.

Ravi Kumar, a World Cup medal-winning rifle shooter, said his is a case of inadvertent intake, an explanation he hopes would fetch him a lighter-than-expected punishment from the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA).

The 29-year-old Kumar, who has not been with the national team since the World Cup in Munich last May, is a bronze medallist from the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and the 2014 Asian Games in the 10m air rifle competitions.

He tested positive for propranolol during a domestic competition here. The substance is used to treat high blood pressure and is on the prohibited list of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

“I had taken the medicine to treat migraine inadvertently. It was after being prescribed by my doctor at home days before I was tested during the Kumar Surendra Nath Memorial Meet in May-June,” Kumar said.

“I explained everything to NADA and they understood but told me that my only mistake was that I did not disclose while being tested that I had taken the medicine, which contains a substance that is banned in shooting. It is used for migraine and high blood pressure,” he added.

Kumar is not going to seek a test of his B sample test and has accepted the findings. The maximum punishment after accepting the A sample findings is two years but Kumar is hoping for a lighter ban. The NADA disciplinary panel will be deciding on the quantum of punishment in the next few days.

“I am hopeful of the result coming in my favour since I had taken the specified substance without knowing it. I also clearly told my doctor that I am a sportsperson,” he said.

Sangwan shock for national coach Kuttappa

Former Asian silver-medallist Sumit Sangwan’s positive dope test has left the Indian boxing fraternity shocked. National coach CA Kuttappa has lamented the accomplished pugilist’s “wretched luck”.

The 26-year-old Sangwan was crowned the 91kg category national champion in October and was preparing to return to his preferred 81kg division when it emerged that he has tested positive for a diuretic, acetazolamide.

“He had just won the national title, was coming along nicely for the 81kg division, now this has happened. I am in shock, his track record has been clean and I would like to believe it is a mistake,” Kuttappa said.

“He has been so unlucky. After he won the Asian silver 2017, he got injured, that required surgery. He was once again picking himself up and I am told a mistake has led to this now,” he said.

Indian boxing’s high performance director Santiago Nieva revealed that Sangwan has left the national camp in Patiala. “He has taken leave to deal with this issue. It is shocking,” he said.

The boxer is an Olympian (2012, London). A Boxing Federation of India official said there has been no response from him on whether he wants his B sample tested.

“We are waiting to hear from him. He hasn’t been communicating so we are not sure what his next step is likely to be,” he said. The boxer declined comment when contacted and cited the ongoing disciplinary proceedings for his silence.

A few days ago, international medal-winning woman boxer Neeraj Phogat had tested positive for anabolic steroids.

“It is very uncommon in Indian boxing for elite boxers to fail dope tests. It has stunned us,” said Kuttappa. — PTI