Commonwealth Games: India's para-powerlifter tests positive

There was a huge embarrassment for India Thursday when para-powerlifter Sachin Choudhary had to be pulled out of the Commonwealth Games and sent back home for failing a drug test conducted by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) last month.

Choudhary quietly left Glasgow for India citing his father's ill-health even as his doping report was made public. He was tested out of competition. Choudhary was a surprise inclusion in the paralympic squad since he was not a medal prospect.

His name was not a part of the list of medal prospects sent to the sports ministry by the Paralympics Committee of India (PCI) but then he somehow made it to Glasgow.

PCI secretary general J. Chandrasekhar told IANS that Choudhary has indeed failed a dope test and the national body was seriously taking up the issue.

"We have got the news that Sachin has tested positive in an out-of-competition dope test conducted by the National Anti-Doping Agency. We are seriously taking up the matter and will take strict action against him," said Chandrasekhar.

Choudhary was also part of the 2012 London Paralympics and the World Championships. The Para-powerlifting competition in the Commonwealth Games was scheduled for Aug 2.