Athletics Coach Rakesh Kumar Gets Lifetime Ban From NADA, Powerlifter Provisionally Suspended

Athletics coach Rakesh Kumar has received a lifetime ban from the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) for administering a prohibited substance to an athlete. The punishment marks the first time an Indian coach has received a lifetime ban in the country’s anti-doping history, according to the latest sports news. Several athletes, including Gaurav Vats, Chelsi, Prakruthi Roopa Rao, Kaushal Kumar, Jujhar Singh, and Baljeet Kaur, have been suspended after testing positive for doping.

NADA suspended Rakesh Kumar in March 2025 after finding him guilty of administering a prohibited substance to an athlete. Rakesh Kumar was found guilty of violating Article 2.8 of the anti-doping code, which covers administering or attempting to administer a prohibited substance. His ban took effect on 28 March 2025, when he was suspended. The lifetime ban means he will remain ineligible for involvement in sport under the applicable anti-doping regulations.

National Anti-Doping Agency has sanctioned a list for provisional suspension, under which seven athletes have been suspended. National Inter-State bronze-winning sprinter Prakruthi Roopa Rao has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for the banned steroids Stanozolol and Drostanolone. Quartermiler Kaushal Kumar, steeplechaser Jujhar Singh and long-distance runner Baljeet Kaur are among the other athletes facing provisional suspensions. In total, seven names from athletics feature on the provisionally suspended list, showing the continuing presence of doping cases across Indian track and field. A minor weightlifter has also been added to the provisional suspension list after testing positive for Oxandrolone. Khelo India Games gold medal-winning weightlifter Chelsi has received a five-year ban after failing a doping test.

Powerlifter Gaurav Vats has been provisionally suspended over allegations involving the possession and trafficking of prohibited drugs. The action follows a crackdown at the Vats’ nutritional supplements company in Najafgarh. A tip-off from NADA’s Intelligence & Investigations unit led to a joint operation involving local police, Central Food Safety Officers and officials from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. Authorities recovered approximately 2,800 capsules and tablets and 11 injectable units of prohibited substances. The recovered substances included anabolic steroids such as Methenolone Enanthate, Trenbolone and Stanozolol. Officials also recovered 300 Methandienone tablets, 850 Oxandrolone tablets, and 1,500 SARMs capsules. Injections containing Adenosine Monophosphate, classified as a prohibited hormone and metabolic modulator, were also recovered.

Deepak Punia tested positive for clomiphene and is the third case of doping from the squad selected for the Asian Games 2026. Mukul Dahiya (men’s 89kg freestyle) and Deepanshu (men’s 130kg Greco-Roman) are already disqualified from the wrestling team selected for Aichi-Nagoya. This makes doping a serious concern for the federation. WFI has argued that earlier notification could have allowed the federation to replace athletes before submitting the final Asian Games entries. For now, India will have no representatives in the freestyle 86kg and 97kg and Greco-Roman 130kg categories. Doping remains a serious concern for the country. India ranks third on the WADA Anti-Doping rankings for doping violations.