India’s Commonwealth Games silver medallist Tulika Maan has been withdrawn from the ongoing Glasgow Commonwealth Games after being provisionally suspended by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) for three whereabouts failures within a 12-month period. The setback leaves the experienced judoka facing a possible two-year ban under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules.
Maan, who won silver in the women’s +78kg category at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, was among India’s strongest medal hopes in Glasgow before the suspension forced her out of the squad.
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A member of the Indian judo contingent confirmed that Maan had been removed from the team after receiving a notice from NADA over repeated whereabouts failures.
“She has committed three whereabouts failures in a 12-month period and NADA has sent notice to her. So, she will be withdrawn from the team,” a judo coach told PTI on condition of anonymity.
The 27-year-old becomes the second Indian judoka to be ruled out of the Games in as many days after Arun Kumar was provisionally suspended for returning a positive out-of-competition dope test.
SECOND JUDO BLOW FOR INDIA
Maan’s withdrawal comes as another major setback for India’s judo campaign in Glasgow. Just a day earlier, men’s -73kg judoka Arun Kumar was removed from the squad after testing positive for an anabolic steroid during an out-of-competition test conducted by NADA.
The Indian judo contingent is yet to leave for Glasgow, with the team’s events beginning on July 31. The squad is scheduled to depart on July 27, but the two suspensions have already disrupted India’s preparations ahead of the competition.
WHAT THE WHEREABOUTS RULE MEANS
Unlike a positive doping test, Maan’s case relates to the anti-doping whereabouts system. Under WADA regulations, three filing failures, missed tests, or a combination of both within a rolling 12-month period constitute an anti-doping rule violation.
Athletes in the Registered Testing Pool are required to regularly update their location details, including training venues, accommodation and a daily 60-minute time slot during which they must be available for out-of-competition testing. Failure to meet these obligations can result in disciplinary action, including suspension.
MAJOR BLOW TO INDIA’S MEDAL HOPES
Maan is among India’s most accomplished judokas in recent years. Apart from winning Commonwealth Games silver in Birmingham, she represented India at the Paris Olympics in 2024 and also competed at the 2022 and 2024 World Championships.
India had named a 14-member judo squad for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games after winning three medals in Birmingham in 2022. Maan’s absence significantly weakens India’s chances in the women’s heavyweight category while raising further concerns after two members of the contingent were withdrawn before the competition even began.
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