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Top javelin thrower Davinder Singh test for marijuana
Davinder Singh, one of the leading javelin throwers in the country, tested positive for marijuana, a recreational drug, should be a worrying factor for the Athletics Federation of India (AFI).
Doping issues have surfaced once again as top Indian athletes prepare for the final selection trials for the Asian Athletics Championships, to be held in Bhubaneswar from July 6 to 9.
The news of Davinder Singh, one of the leading javelin throwers in the country, testing positive for marijuana, a recreational drug, should be a worrying factor for the Athletics Federation of India (AFI).
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But what has gone in favour of the Punjab thrower is that marijuana is not a specified drug that is on the sanctioned list of the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA), and he hasn’t been provisionally suspended from competition either.
He tested positive during the third leg of the Indian Grand Prix, held on May 15 in New Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium when National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) took his urine samples.
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The thrower, however, might have to face the NADA disciplinary panel.
Davinder is one of the athletes to have achieved a qualifying mark of 83 metres for the World Athletics Championships in London. His season best is 84.57m, recorded in the opening leg of the Indian Grand Prix in Patiala on May 7.
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India’s junior world champion Neeraj Chopra is the other male javelin thrower who has booked his ticket for London while Annu Rani has qualified in the women’s group.
According to medical expert Ashok Ahuja, marijuana is sort of a stimulant that doesn’t come under banned substances but top athletes testing positive for recreational drugs sends a wrong message to youngsters.
“Top athletes are role models. Such cases only tarnish the image of the sport,” he said.
