In a major setback for Indian sports, Greco-Roman wrestler Deepak has been removed from the Asian Games squad after testing positive for a prohibited substance. He becomes the third Indian wrestler to be sidelined due to doping violations ahead of the continental event.
- Greco-Roman wrestler Deepak removed from the Asian Games squad due to an adverse doping result.
- The prohibited substance detected was Clomifene, a hormone and metabolic modulator.
- Deepak is the third Indian wrestler to be ruled out of the event for doping, following Mukul Dahiya and Deepanshu.
- Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) took the step to avoid heavy financial penalties from the UWW.
Indian wrestling has been plunged into another crisis as Deepak, a rising star in the Greco-Roman category, has been officially removed from the national contingent for the upcoming Asian Games. The decision comes after the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) reported an adverse analytical finding in a urine sample provided by the athlete during the selection trials held in Lucknow on May 31, 2026.
Deepak, a 25-year-old athlete employed by the Indian postal service, had emerged as a surprise package in the wrestling circuit. After a strong performance at the Federation Cup, he secured his spot in the Asian Games squad, marking the first time a wrestler from the postal department had qualified for the event. However, his journey has come to an abrupt halt due to the detection of Clomifene, a substance prohibited under the S4 category of Hormone and Metabolic Modulators by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
BozokMedia analysis shows that this incident highlights a systemic failure in the monitoring of athletes who enter national squads through trials rather than long-term national camps. Since Deepak was not a regular at the national camp, he escaped frequent testing, allowing the prohibited substance to go undetected until the final selection stage. This pattern of 'surprise qualifiers' failing tests suggests a need for more rigorous out-of-competition testing for all eligible athletes, regardless of their camp status.
The repeated failure of Indian wrestlers in dope tests ahead of a major event points toward a dangerous lack of awareness regarding supplement purity and prohibited medication protocols.
The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) acted swiftly to remove Deepak from the squad. Officials stated that the decision was primarily a risk-mitigation strategy. Had Deepak tested positive during the Asian Games, the United World Wrestling (UWW) could have imposed a staggering fine of up to Rs 20 lakh on the federation, adding financial strain to an already embattled organization.
According to NADA, Deepak failed to provide any medical justification or a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) for the use of Clomifene. Furthermore, the athlete could not produce bills or receipts for the dietary supplements he claimed to be using, leaving the agency with no satisfactory explanation for the positive result.
| Athlete | Category | Reason for Removal |
|---|---|---|
| Deepak | Greco-Roman | Clomifene (Hormone Modulator) |
| Mukul Dahiya | Men's Freestyle 86kg | Doping Violation |
| Deepanshu | Greco-Roman 130kg | Doping Violation |
While Deepak has not been provisionally suspended yet, his results from May 31, 2026, could be disqualified if the B-sample also returns positive or if he waives the analysis. He currently has a seven-day window to request the testing of the B-sample to contest the findings.
Q1: Why was Deepak removed from the squad if he isn't officially suspended yet?
The WFI removed him to avoid the risk of a massive fine (up to Rs 20 lakh) from the UWW if he were to test positive during the actual games.
Q2: What is the next step for the athlete?
Deepak can request a B-sample analysis within seven days to prove the first result was a false positive.