EXPLAINED: Why India’s First Rowing World Cup Gold Medal Got Stripped Off?

India's historic triumph at the Rowing World Cup met a catastrophic end after one member of the victorious lightweight double sculls team tested positive for a banned substance.

Rowers Lakshay and Ujjwal Kumar Singh earlier had created history by winning the lightweight double sculls at the Rowing World Cup in Lucerne, Switzerland in June, finishing with a time of 6:26.09.

However, according to a report by The Tribune, Lakshay has tested positive for Stanozolol, a banned performance-enhancing substance.

The adverse analytical finding stems from an out-of-competition sample collected on May 25, following which the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) provisionally suspended the rower and served him with a notice.

Since the sample was taken before the Rowing World Cup, all of Lakshay's results from May 25 onwards are subject to disqualification. Consequently, India is likely to be stripped of its historic World Cup gold medal in the lightweight double sculls event.

With the provisional suspension now in place, Lakshay could face a ban of up to four years if the anti-doping violation is upheld. His next course of action will be to respond to the charges and pursue the available legal and disciplinary process.