Potential Olympian in javelin throw DP Manu suspended for doping

PANCHKULA (HARYANA), June 28: Javelin thrower DP Manu, seen as an Olympic hopeful, has been provisionally suspended by the National Anti-Doping Agency after he tested positive for an anabolic steroid.

A source with knowledge of the developments confirmed to PTI that Manu tested positive during the Indian Grand Prix in April this year.

Earlier, on the orders of NADA, the Athletics Federation of India had asked Manu not to take part in the competition.

Manu, 24, who won a silver medal at the 2023 Asian Championships, was more or less certain to qualify for the Olympics via world ranking, but will miss the bus to Paris following the latest developments.

He was on the initial entry list for the National Inter-State Championships, which began here on Thursday. But his name was removed from the updated list.

AFI president Adille Sumariwalla told PTI that NADA had asked the federation to keep Manu from competing, but did not confirm whether the athlete had committed an anti-doping offense.

“There might be something like that but we still don’t know what’s really going on. Yesterday, the AFI office (from NADA) got a call asking to disqualify him (Manu) from the competition,” Sumariwalla said.

“Otherwise, there are no details (about what type of possible violation). I think the athlete himself (DP Manu) learns from NADA what exactly is going on.”

Manu finished second behind Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra with a throw of 82.06 m in the Federation Cup held from May 15 to 19 in Bhubaneswar. He later won gold at the Taiwan Athletics Open in Taipei on June 1 with a throw of 81.58 m.

Manu was 15th on the World Athletics Road to Paris list and was on track to qualify for the Paris Olympics as the men’s javelin throw will feature 32 athletes. The qualification deadline is June 30.

Chopra and Kishore Jena have already secured automatic qualification for the Olympics after clearing the entry standard of 85.50m.

A maximum of three athletes from a country can compete in one track and field event at the Olympic Games. (PTI)