CWG 2026: Indian Commonwealth Games squad faces doping embarrassment

Two more Indian athletes, Judoka Tulika Maan and Arun Kumar, were removed from the squad following doping concerns. Maan and Arun Kumar were provisionally suspended by National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA).

Tulika Maan violated the 'Whereabouts' clause, which required her to be available for a test by NADA.

Arun Kumar was withdrawn from the squad after failing an out of competition dope test. The Under 73 kg category judoka, had participated in the Qingdao Grand Prix last month. He had been handed a provisional suspension by NADA for testing positive for an anabolic steroid.

"The notification for suspension has come. We have to withdraw him," as per an official, who spoke to PTI.

Arun Kumar has previously won the gold medal in last year's Taipei's Asian Open. Mann was a medal hopeful as well as she had won a silver medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The Indian contingent has also taken a hit due to the concerns as Dilbagh Singh has been forced to return to India under clause 2.4 of the qualification system. This clause states that any CGA with an athlete who commits an Anti-Doping Rules Violation (ADRV) has its allocation reduced by one and in the event that there are multiple athletes with ADRV the number of spots reduced will be the same as the number of ADRV's.

The Indian contingent had fielded 12 athletes in weightlifting despite the reduced allocation of 11 and this apparently led to Dilbagh Singh being sent back home. Singh was reportedly chosen to be the player to be sent back to India as he had an ongoing back injury that has prevented him from training during the preparatory camp in Birmingham.

In recent times, India has secured a large number of medals weightlifting, boxing, athletics and para-sports. With the weightlifting and athletics teams being hit by a number of ADRV's there could be an impact on the medal tally in Glasgow.

Another cause of concern is that India is set to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and is actively bidding for the 2036 Olympic Games. The WADA report for 2024 shows that India had 260 athletes testing positive for prohibited substances. This figure results in India topping the chart for doping violations.

The two most affected disciplines are athletics and weightlifting. These are also amongst the disciplines which carry the medal earning burden for the country.

The sports ministry is also seized of the matter and not happy with the situation.