Sneha Kolleri Provisionally Suspended for Doping Violation Ahead of Asian Championships

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Indian quarter-miler Sneha Kolleri has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for stanozolol, an anabolic steroid banned under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) regulations. The 23-year-old athlete, who was set to represent India at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea, has been withdrawn from the squad following the adverse finding.

Kolleri, a sprinter from Kerala, had been one of India's rising stars in athletics. She won a bronze in the 400m at the Federation Cup held in Kochi and had also clinched gold in the 200m at the Indian Grand Prix-2 in Thiruvananthapuram earlier this year. Additionally, she was a part of the Indian mixed 4x400m relay squad that competed at the World Athletics Relays in China.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) confirmed the provisional suspension, citing the presence of stanozolol in her sample. The substance is known for its muscle-enhancing properties and has been banned in athletics due to its performance-enhancing potential.

An official involved with the national team said, "This is a serious concern. We need to ensure better monitoring, especially when athletes are training at national camps under foreign coaches."

Kolleri was training under the supervision of coach Jerry Holness at the national camp in Thiruvananthapuram. The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) only considers athletes from national camps for its relay squads, adding further scrutiny to the management of its internal doping controls.

The development comes soon after javelin thrower Shivpal Singh was handed a suspension for a second doping offense, marking a worrying trend in Indian athletics. The AFI now faces mounting pressure to revisit its anti-doping frameworks and implement stricter vigilance across training centers.