B-samples of six wrestlers also test positive

NEW DELHI - The B-samples of six Indian wrestlers, charged with doping, have also tested positive and they now face the anti-doping disciplinary panel for a hearing.

The wrestlers were tested positive in their A-samples for the banned substance methylhexanamine, which was included in the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) list of prohibitive drug this year.

Sumit (74kg), Mausam Khatri (96kg) and Arjuna awardee Rajiv Tomar (120kg) in the men’s freestyle and Gursharanpreet Kaur (72kg) in the women’s section were part of the Oct 3-14 Commonwealth Games wrestling squad. They continue to be suspended till the hearing.

Rahul Mann (60kg) and Joginder Singh (120kg) were the other two wrestlers.

“All the six wrestlers’ B-samples have also returned positive. A copy of the second notice has been sent to them and the anti-doping disciplinary committee which will give the wrestlers a date of hearing tomorrow,” National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) director-general Rahul Bhatnagar told IANS.

The disciplinary committee will be headed by retired sessions judge Dinesh Dayal. The three-member panel will include an eminent sportsperson and eminent doctor.

The sports ministry had requested a quick hearing of the dope-tainted athletes keeping in mind the forthcoming Commonwealth Games.

Besides the six wrestlers, two athletes (shot-putter Saurabh Vij and discus thrower Akash Antil) and three swimmers (Richa Mishra, Jyotsna Pansari and Amar Muralidharan) also tested positive for methylhexanamine in their A-samples. Muralidharan is not part of the Commonwealth Games squad.

“Richa, Jyotsana, Akash and Saurabh came today for their B-samples testing,” Bhatnagar said.

All these athletes have been provisionally suspended by their federations.