Rio-bound shot putter Inderjeet flunks dope test

After wrestler Narsingh Yadav, India's prospects at the Rio Olympics were dealt another major blow on Tuesday when it transpired that shot putter Inderjeet Singh had flunked a dope test.

Inderjeet, a bronze medallist in the 2014 Incheon Asian Games, was the first Indian track and field athlete to qualify for the upcoming summer Games starting August 5.

According to sources, the 28-year-old Inderjeet's out-of-competition test was done on June 22. He was found positive for two banned substances androsterone and etiocholanolone.

The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) has asked Inderjeet Singh to get his 'B' sample tested immediately as time is running out.

If his 'B' sample also tests positive, he will miss the bus to Rio, reducing the Indian contingent further to 118.

Inderjeet, however, claimed innocence and said it was a conspiracy against him.

"This is a serious conspiracy against me. Why would someone do such silly things just before an Olympics," he told IANS over phone.

--IANS

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