National Games medal-winning runner Twinkle Chaudhary provisionally suspended after positive doping test

Multiple National Games medallist Twinkle Chaudhary has been provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) after testing positive for the banned anabolic steroid Methyltestosterone.

The 28-year-old middle-distance runner from Jalandhar had recently won gold in the women’s 4x400m relay, silver in the 800m, and bronze in the mixed 4x400m relay at the National Games held in Uttarakhand. In April, she set a new meet record of 2:00.71s in the 800m at the National Federation Senior Athletics Championships in Kochi.

Earlier this month, Chaudhary won silver in the 800m at the Taiwan Open and finished fourth in the Asian Athletics Championships in South Korea in May.

The AIU has issued her a “notice of allegation,” and she will now have the opportunity to present her case at a hearing.

Chaudhary’s suspension is the latest blow to Indian athletics, which continues to grapple with a poor doping record. Just last month, quarter-miler Sneha Kolleri was suspended after testing positive for another steroid, Stanazolol.

India topped the 2023 doping charts among countries that conducted over 5,000 tests, with an adverse findings rate of 3.8%. Of the 204,809 tests conducted globally, India accounted for 214 positive cases—over 11% of the total.

The Sports Ministry has pledged to intensify anti-doping efforts through awareness campaigns. An amended National Anti-Doping Act is expected to be introduced in Parliament soon, after addressing concerns raised by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) regarding government interference.

The AIU enforces anti-doping regulations globally in athletics.