Reported by AMN-USA | Sport | Source: NDTV Sports

Shivpal Singh, India’s javelin thrower who competed at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, has tested positive for a banned substance for the second time, and now faces the possibility of an eight-year suspension, according to a report by NDTV Sports.

The 29-year-old athlete was tested out-of-competition earlier this year while training at the National Institute of Sports (NIS), Patiala. This new violation could have serious consequences under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) rules, which allow up to eight years of suspension for a second offense.

This is not Singh’s first doping-related issue:

• In 2021, Singh tested positive for methandienone, a banned anabolic steroid, and was initially handed a four-year ban.
• In 2023, however, the NADA Appeal Panel reduced that sentence to one year, citing evidence that the violation was the result of contaminated supplements (Times of India).

After returning to competition in April 2023, Singh managed to secure a bronze at the National Inter-State Championships in Bhubaneswar and later won gold at the National Games in Goa.

Singh has denied the latest doping allegations, telling The Tribune:

"It is not true. I am not under any suspension. I am still in Patiala training. I do not know who is spreading such rumours about me."
(The Tribune)

Shivpal Singh’s career-best throw is 86.23 meters, achieved at the 2019 Asian Athletics Championships in Doha, where he claimed silver.

As of now, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has not released any official statement on the latest developments.