Doped Kang faces possible four-year ban

New Delhi: Top Indian javelin thrower Davinder Singh Kang has been suspended provisionally by the world athletics governing body after he returned positive for a steroid in an out-of-competition test last week.

The 29-year-old Kang's dope sample was taken by the officials of the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), the IAAF's new anti-doping body which started operations last year, four days ago in Patiala. It was found to contain a banned steroid and Kang now faces the prospect of being banned for four years. In that case, his career could well be over.

The AIU officials tested Kang at a time prescribed by him under the "whereabouts" clause of the WADA Code as he is one of the five Indian athletes placed in the IAAF Registered Testing Pool.

Kang's dope failure was intimated to the Athletics Federation of India by the IAAF Tuesday and his name was immediately removed from the starting line-up of men's javelin throw at the Indian Grand Prix  in Patiala.

Last May, the Punjab athlete had also tested positive for marijuana, traces of which were found in his urine sample collected by the National Anti-Doping Agency officials during an Indian Grand Prix event.

Kang was not suspended by the NADA at that time, since marijuana falls under the "specified substance" category in the World Anti-Doping Agency’s prohibited list of the performance-enhancing drugs.