Javelin thrower Kang flunks dope test, faces 4-year ban

TIL Desk Sports/ Top Indian javelin thrower Davinder Singh Kang has been suspended provisionally by the world athletics governing body after he returned positive for a steroid in an out-of-competition test last week.

The 29-year-old Kang’s dope sample was taken by the officials of the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), the IAAF’s new anti-doping body which started operations last year, four days ago in Patiala. It was found to contain a banned steroid and Kang now faces the prospect of being banned for four years. In that case, his career could well be over.

The AIU officials tested Kang at a time prescribed by him under the “whereabouts” clause of the WADA Code as he is one of the five Indian athletes placed in the IAAF Registered Testing Pool.

Kang’s dope failure was intimated to the Athletics Federation of India by the IAAF Tuesday and his name was immediately removed from the starting line-up of men’s javelin throw at the Indian Grand Prix held at the National Institute of Sports in Patiala.

“The athlete gave the timing window of 10am to 11am on that particular day (four days back) in his ‘whereabouts’ information. The AIU people came to Patiala and took his sample and that contained a banned steroid. He is now provisionally suspended,” an official of the AFI said on condition of anonymity.