Unfortunately, India’s Hangzhou Asian Games participant hammer thrower Rachna Kumari has tested positive in a dope test conducted by the international federation’s Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) just before the continental showpiece and has been provisionally suspended. The 30-year-old Kumari’s out-of-competition dope sample was found to contain steroids Stanozolol, Metandienone, and Dehydrochloromethyltestosterone (DHCMT).
Kumari has previously been banned for four years by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) after testing positive for anabolic steroid Methenolone. If found guilty in this latest case, she could potentially face a maximum ban of eight years, which could signal the end of her career. Kumari stated that she had provided urine samples to officials from a foreign dope testing agency in Patiala in September.
An official from the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) confirmed Kumari’s failed dope test but did not provide additional details as it is under the jurisdiction of the AIU. Kumari participated in the Hangzhou Asian Games as part of the 68-member Indian athletics team and finished ninth in the women’s hammer throw event with a distance of 58.13m. Despite her domestic successes, including a gold at the National Inter-State Championships in Bhubaneswar and a bronze at the Goa National Games, she has not won any international medals.