Indian Shot Putter Vidhi Chaudhary Fails Dope Test, Ruled Out of Asian U23 Championships: Report

New Delhi, July 7: Uttar Pradesh shot putter Vidhi has failed a dope test and will miss the Asian U23 Athletics Championships in Ordos, China, from Thursday. The 21-year-old, who won gold at the 2025 National Games, had been named in India’s 54-member squad for the July 9-12 event.

According to a report by PTI, citing sources (on condition of anonymity), Vidhi had failed the test, though no details were given. Vidhi, who trains at the NCOE Patiala, confirmed she will not travel to China. Her sample was collected in May, out of competition. She won senior Federation Cup gold in 2025 with 16.10m.

This season, Vidhi finished second in the Indian Athletics Series senior event 5 in Sangrur, Punjab, on May 9 with 16.35m, which is her personal best. Her absence comes just before the U23 continental meet begins in Ordos.

Nipam Chauhan Also Under Provisional Suspension

India’s fastest female junior athlete and Asian U20 Championships medallist, Nipam Chauhan, has also tested positive twice for anabolic steroid Stanozolol and its metabolites, and has been placed under provisional suspension. The 19-year-old ran 11.53 seconds to win 100m gold at the junior Federation Cup in Tumkur, Karnataka, in April, setting a new junior national record.

Nipam’s first sample was collected in a competition in Tumkur on April 24. Another sample was taken by NADA officials out of competition in Bengaluru on May 12. Both tested positive for a combination of substances. She won 100m bronze and 4x100m relay silver at the Asian U20 Athletics Championships in Hong Kong in May. If guilty, India may lose both medals.