Odisha Weightlifter Ravi Kumar Banned For 4 Yrs, May Miss Tokyo Olympics

Bhubaneswar: Ace weightlifter from Odisha and 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games Gold medalist, Katulu Ravi Kumar has been banned for four years by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) for anti-doping rule violation.

According to sources, Ravi Kumar's urine sample tested positive for banned substance Ostarine, a Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARM) which helps increase muscle mass. Ostarine is an investigational drug which is yet to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

However, speaking to OTV, Ravi Kumar said that NADA has not yet concluded the hearing of his case. "The hearing of the case is underway and I will present my stand. The doping agency has only completed its protocol," he said.

He further said that NADA had accepted his stand during the last hearing on anti-doping rule violation. "I will not let my career ruined," he added.

Meanwhile, the ban by NADA has raised concerns as Kumar may miss the 2020 Tokyo Olympics which is just nine month away.

Apart from Ravi Kumar, 2016 junior Commonwealth Championships gold-winning weightlifter Purnima Pandey, federation cup champ discus thrower Dharam Raj Yadav, 100 and 200m sprinter Sanjeet and weightlifter Gurmail Singh have also been suspended for doping.

In June this year, NADA had provisionally suspended Ravi Kumar Katulu for anti-doping rule violation. Ravi Kumar’s sample was collected during 71st Men and 34th Women Senior National Weightlifting Championship in Visakhapatnam held earlier this year.

#LISTEN to what #Odisha weightlifter K Ravi Kumar says after being banned for 4-yrs by National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) pic.twitter.com/8UaGpQFk2g

— OTV (@otvnews) November 5, 2019