New Delhi: Pistol shooter Gaurav Kumar Masoori won’t be able to represent India in the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games after testing positive for a banned substance.
Masoori, who was also part of the Indian squad for the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou, China, later this month, has been issued an adverse analytical finding (AAF) notification by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) after his sample tested positive for propranolol and
its metabolite, 4-hydroxy-propranolol, reported The Tribune.
Propranolol is a beta blocker that lowers heart rate and is prohibited in precision sports such as shooting because it can provide advantage to the competitor.
Though the NADA notification said Masoori remains eligible to compete as he has not been provisionally suspended, the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has removed him from the squad for the Asian Games, to be held in Japan from September 19 to October 4.
“We had to take the decision to replace his name in the Asian Games squad as he has been issued a notification. We would not have been able to make the change in time for the Games if we had delayed the decision,” NRAI secretary general Pawan Singh told The Tribune.
The shooter’s sample was collected during the Kumar Surendra Singh Memorial Shooting Championship, held in New Delhi from April 28 to May 15.
Two days ago, shot putter Vidhi was ruled of the Indian team for the Asian U-23 Championships – which started in Ordos, China on Thursday – after failing a dope test.