17-year-old Indian swimmer suspended 18 months for doping, loses Asian Games spot

A 17-year-old Indian swimmer has been removed from India’s swimming team for the upcoming Asian Games and suspended for 18 months for failing a doping test. The swimmer tested positive for terbutaline in February. Terbutaline is a beta-2 agonist commonly prescribed for asthma, bronchitis, and other lung diseases. According to the Times of India, the swimmer suffered from smoke inhalation and took the prescription with a doctor’s approval but did not properly obtain a therapeutic use exemption (TUE). He listed the substance on his doping control form. The swimmer has not been formally named because he is a minor. His twin brother remains on the Asian Games team. Both have represented India internationally at junior meets, but results often confuse the two due to similar names. The suspended swimmer had qualified to race two events at the meet. An expedited hearing took place last week, with the national swimming federation hoping that a dropped case would clear him to compete in Japan later this month. Standard doping violations carry a four-year suspension, reducible to two years if unintentional, with further reductions for reasonable explanation. While India is the world's most populous country, it won only six medals (no golds) at the 2026 Summer Olympics. In recent years, India has led the world in anti-doping violations, highlighting systemic challenges in athlete education and management.