“Is This Acceptable?”- WFI Rocked by Doping Bans as Mukul Dahiya, Deepanshu Cases Trigger Alarm Ahead Of Asiad

New Delhi, August 28: Ahead of the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, a series of doping and whereabouts-related cases involving Indian wrestlers has prompted the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) to issue a stern advisory, urging athletes to take personal responsibility for complying with anti-doping regulations.

The development comes after Asian Games-bound wrestlers Mukul Dahiya and Deepanshu were removed from India's squad following doping violations. Their absence has reduced India's wrestling contingent for the upcoming Asian Games from 18 to 16 athletes.

"WFI had sought a replacement for Deepanshu with Ronak Dahiya, but the federation was told that a replacement was allowed only in case of an injury and not for a doping violation," a WFI source said, as quoted by PTI.

Dahiya, who won silver at the 2026 Asian Championships, was provisionally suspended by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) after testing positive for Mephentermine. His sample was collected during the Asian Games selection trials in Lucknow on May 31.

"Mukul, in his explanation, says that he took an injection on the advice of his friend wrestler. Now is this acceptable? The wrestlers will have to take responsibility for what they consume and put in their bodies," another WFI official said.

Deepanshu has reportedly received an eight-year ban after testing positive for Stanozolol, which was treated as his second anti-doping offence. He had previously served a three-year ban for the same substance.

U23 Wrestlers Also Face Doping, Whereabouts Cases

Concerns have also reached the U23 level, with national medallists Nikhil and Rohit Kumar provisionally suspended after competition samples tested positive for prohibited substances. Both are now ineligible for the U23 World Championships selection trials.

The federation is also dealing with a whereabouts case involving 2024 U23 world champion Chirag Chhikara, who has been banned for two years following three whereabouts failures.

"Lack of education among wrestlers is a major issue, and that's why they miss tests which they are supposed to take under whereabouts rules. That's why we have issued this advisory," the WFI source said.

The federation has asked wrestlers to keep their NADA/ADAMS whereabouts information updated, remain available for testing and exercise caution with medicines and supplements. Athletes have also been advised not to consume products solely on recommendations from fellow wrestlers, coaches or gym personnel.

WFI said it would conduct anti-doping awareness programmes, stressing that the goal is "to build a culture of clean sport, informed decision-making and individual responsibility in Indian wrestling."