India loses third wrestling berth for Asian Games following positive doping test

India’s preparations for the upcoming Asian Games have suffered a significant blow with the news that a third wrestler has been ruled out of the competition following a positive test for a banned substance. Deepak, who was set to compete in the Greco-Roman 67kg category, has been removed from the squad after failing an anti-doping test conducted during the selection trials.

The development comes as a major setback for the national team, which has now seen three of its allocated berths for the continental multi-sport event vacated due to doping violations. According to reports, the athlete provided a sample in Lucknow on May 31, which subsequently returned a positive result for Clomifene.

In response to the growing number of positive tests, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has issued stern reminders to its athletes regarding the necessity of adhering to anti-doping regulations. The federation has expressed concern that wrestlers choosing to remain outside of the national training camp without official authorization may be contributing to these lapses in compliance.

The WFI continues to emphasize the importance of responsible conduct among its competitors as the organization attempts to mitigate further issues in the lead-up to the Games. The loss of these three spots leaves the Indian wrestling contingent with a reduced squad as they finalize their preparations for the tournament.