New Delhi, June 28, 2025 — Indian athletics has been rocked by another doping scandal after Twinkle Chaudhary, one of the country’s top middle-distance runners, was provisionally suspended for testing positive for a banned substance.
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) served Chaudhary with a notice on Friday following tests that detected methyltestosterone in her samples. Chaudhary recently clocked a personal best of 2:00.71 in the 800m at the Federation Championships, marking the fourth-best timing ever recorded by an Indian woman in the event.
The news broke while Athletics Federation of India (AFI) officials were engaged in discussions with stakeholders—including the Police, Army, Sports Authority of India, Reliance Foundation, and Olympic Gold Quest—about decentralised training programmes.
AFI’s former president and current spokesperson, Adille Sumariwalla, confirmed that the federation will conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Chaudhary’s positive test.
“I have no idea what happened there. I have not seen the order. There will be a proper enquiry into this. And if action has to be taken against the coach, it will be taken,” Sumariwalla told reporters.
Chaudhary is trained by Sarabjit Singh, who also coaches Gurindervir Singh, the national record holder in the men’s 100 metres. Both athletes have been training under the Reliance Foundation banner.
Sumariwalla expressed alarm at the trend of doping, pointing out that not only coaches but even parents are now implicated in pushing athletes toward performance-enhancing drugs to secure jobs, academic marks, and financial incentives.
“Till today only 1,100 coaches have registered with the federation. Coaches are not registering because then they will be held accountable if their trainee is caught. But they are quick to send their names to get cash prizes,” he said. “Elite athletes are not stupid—that’s why I am shaken by Twinkle’s suspension. At junior levels, doping is a menace. Coaches are involved, and today even parents are indulging in this.”
Sumariwalla called for harsher penalties, including criminal charges, against those complicit in doping. “If you do not have the power to catch, arrest, and file an FIR, you cannot control this,” he argued.
He also appealed for shared responsibility among stakeholders to curb doping practices. “AFI has a no-needle policy and zero tolerance to doping. But accountability of officials and coaches at the district and state levels, whose athletes test positive for performance-enhancing drugs, should be fixed. Strict punishment will act as a deterrent,” said Sumariwalla, who also serves as a vice-president of World Athletics.
Chaudhary’s provisional suspension adds to growing concerns over doping in Indian athletics, which continues to struggle with repeated violations despite heightened awareness and enforcement efforts.
