Dharambir Singh's Rio Hopes In Jeopardy After Sprinter Fails Dope Test

Indian 200m sprinter Dharambir Singh, who became the first Indian athlete to qualify for the Olympics after 36 years, has not traveled to Rio for the Games after reportedly being told to stay back after failing a drugs test.

According to a report in Times of India, Dharambir was scheduled to leave for Rio on Tuesday morning but he did not turn up. It has been reported that the sprinter failed a dope test that was conducted by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA).

India's build-up to the Rio Olympics has been marred by dope controversy. Wrestler Narsingh Yadav was provisionally suspended by NADA after failing a dope test on July 5 but he was later cleared to participate in the games.

Shot-putter Inderjeet Singh also failed a dope test and his chances of making the Rio Games have suffered a big blow after his 'B' sample tested positive for banned substances on Tuesday.

Dharambir was earlier stripped of his gold medal won in 100m race during the National Inter-State Championships in 2012 for evading a mandatory dope test and a lengthy ban may bring an end to his career.

According to sports medicine experts, there is no provision of a life ban under the new WADA Code of 2015 and maximum punishment is eight years.

Dharambir had breached the 200m Olympics entry standard of 20.50secs by clocking 20.45secs in the fourth Indian GP in Bengaluru on July 11, the last day of qualification, which was hastily arranged by the Athletics Federation of India to give the athletes a chance to make it to the Rio Games.

-With Inputs from PTI-