NEW DELHI: Two days before the start of Asian Athletics Championships in Bangkok, there is widespread speculation that one woman quartermiler who was in the original Indian team may have failed a dope test, although no official confirmation is available.
India had originally named a 54-member team for the continental championships beginning on Wednesday but three of them -- long jumper Jeswin Aldrin, triple jumper Praveen Chitravel and javelin thrower Rohit Yadav -- pulled out due to injuries.
Another two -- quartermilers Mohammed Anas and Anjali Devi (who was named only for women's 4x400m relay) -- also did not travel to the Thailand capital apparently because their entries were sent late.
Five other women quartermilers were also named in the team -- two solely for 4x400m relay, two for both 4x400m relay and 4x400m mixed relay and one for individual 400m race as well as the two relays.
A team official had said that Anas and Devi missed out as Asian Athletics Association (AAA) did not allow replacements.
On Monday, there was speculation that one woman quartermiler failed a dope test. When contacted, Athletics Federation of India (AFI) president Adille Sumariwalla simply said, "Ask NADA (National Anti-Doping Agency)."
The AFI top brass is currently in Bangkok for the continental body's election and awards ceremony.
There is also a speculation that another athlete, a woman sprinter who is not in the team for Asian Championships, could have failed a dope test.
Last Saturday, shot putter Karanveer Singh was also left out of the Indian team after failing an out-of-competition dope test.
