Indian female boxer Neeraj Phogat (57 kg), one of the prospects of the Tokyo Olympics 2020, has been temporarily suspended after failing a dope test. Neeraj was found guilty of consuming the Performance-enhancing drug ligandrol and other Anabolic steroids. Neeraj won a bronze in the Stranza Memorial tournament in Bulgaria this year and a gold medal in a tournament in Russia. He also won a gold medal at the India Open in Guwahati. Neeraj's samples were taken on 24 September which were examined at a lab in Qatar.
The National Anti-Doping Agency said a report from the anti-doping lab in Qatar on November 3 found Neeraj guilty of consuming banned drugs. The agency said that Canada had given her notice of violation of the Prevention of Doping Rules 2015 and was temporarily suspended from 13 November 2019. Neeraj has accepted the result and refused to examine the B specimen. NADA said that accepting the request, her case has been referred to the Anti-Doping Discipline Committee. An official of the Indian Boxing Federation said that the BFI was informed last week.
He said that we received the information last week. No action has been taken against her yet. She took leave from the national camp and we do not know where she is at the moment. Neeraj is part of the Sports Ministry's Target Olympic Podium (TOP) scheme.
