Indian kurash athlete Yash Kumar Chauhan provisionally suspended after positive dope test at Asian Games
Indian kurash competitor Yash Kumar Chauhan has been provisionally suspended after a sample taken during competition on September 27 at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games returned an adverse analytical finding, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) announced on Saturday, October 3, 2026. The 24-year-old has been barred with immediate effect from competing, training, coaching or participating in any activity at the Games pending resolution of the case.
Chauhan’s sample was collected during the kurash competitions, which were held between September 26 and 29, and he had been eliminated after a 0–10 round-of-16 loss to Shakarmamad Mirmamadov of Tajikistan in the 90kg category on September 27. The International Testing Agency (ITA) performed the analysis and results management on behalf of the OCA. India secured a single kurash medal at the Games, a bronze by Pincky Balhara in the women’s 78kg division.
“The ITA, on behalf of the OCA, reports that a sample collected from kurash athlete Yash Kumar Chauhan (IND) has returned an Adverse Analytical Finding for non-specified prohibited substances Metandienone metabolites, GW1516 metabolites, Mephentermine and its metabolite,” the OCA said in a statement on Saturday (October 3).
“The athlete has been informed of the case and provisionally suspended with immediate effect until the resolution of the matter in line with the World Anti-Doping Code and the OCA Anti-Doping Rules. This means that the athlete is prevented from competing, training, coaching, or participating in any activity, during (this) Asian Games.”
Metandienone was described by the OCA as “an oral anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) derived from testosterone” that “is prohibited at all times (in- and out-of-competition) under the WADA Code and is a non-specified substance.” The OCA statement added: “Metandienone is a potent anabolic steroid which increases testosterone levels, causing muscle-mass growth, endurance and strength.”
The OCA noted that “GW1516 is also prohibited at all times (in- and out-of-competition) and is a non-specified substance. It is a drug that activates pathways involved in fat metabolism in the body and that improves endurance performance.” The statement further said: “Mephentermine is prohibited under the WADA Code as a non-specified stimulant. It is prohibited in-competition and is a non-specified stimulant. It acts on the central nervous system and may increase alertness and reduce fatigue.”
Chauhan has the right to challenge the imposition of the provisional suspension before the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s Anti-Doping Division and to request the analysis of the B-sample.
