Indian kabaddi player stripped of Asian Beach Games silver after dope violation

Indian kabaddi player Brijendra Singh Choudhary, a member of the men's team that won silver at the Asian Beach Games earlier this year, has been stripped of his medal after testing positive for a prohibited substance, the International Testing Agency (ITA) said on Tuesday.

Choudhary tested positive on April 27 for brinzolamide, a prohibited diuretic and masking agent, in an in-competition test and has accepted the sanction, the ITA said.

The sixth Asian Beach Games were held in Sanya, China, from April 22 to 30. The Indian men's kabaddi team won silver, while the women's team claimed gold.

“The International Testing Agency (ITA), on behalf of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), reports that Indian Kabaddi player Brijendra Singh Choudhary has been sanctioned for an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV),” the agency said.

Brinzolamide is a specified substance prohibited at all times, both in and out of competition, under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules.

“The athlete accepted the consequences of his ADRV under the OCA anti-doping rules, namely the finding of the ADRV and the disqualification of his individual results obtained at the 6th Asian Beach Games Sanya 2026 which include his second place in the Men’s Beach Kabaddi event,” the ITA said.

According to the agency, only Choudhary's individual result has been affected by the violation.

Choudhary, an all-rounder, has also played in the Pro Kabaddi League, turning out for Dabang Delhi in the 2024 season.

As the ITA has already sanctioned him, there will be no fresh disciplinary proceedings against Choudhary in India. Any further suspension or ban will be decided by the International Kabaddi Federation, according to the information provided.

The ITA imposed the sanction on behalf of the OCA under Article 8.3.3 of the OCA anti-doping rules and the equivalent provision of the World Anti-Doping Code.

The provision allows anti-doping organisations to impose sanctions, including disqualification of event results, without a formal hearing when an athlete does not challenge an anti-doping rule violation.

“The matter is considered as resolved from the perspective of the OCA and will now be transferred to International Kabaddi Federation for a determination of further consequences under the International Kabaddi Federation rules,” the ITA said.

“Parties with a right of appeal may challenge the decision before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS),” it added.