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Indian kabaddi player Brijendra Singh Choudhary lost his 2026 Asian Beach Games silver medal for an anti-doping violation.
Representational pic/AFP
Indian kabaddi player Brijendra Singh Choudhary has been stripped of his silver medal from the 2026 Asian Beach Games after being found guilty of an anti-doping rule violation.
The International Testing Agency (ITA), acting on behalf of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), announced on Tuesday that Choudhary tested positive for brinzolamide, a prohibited diuretic and masking agent, following an in-competition test conducted on April 27. The player accepted the violation and the resulting sanction.
The sixth Asian Beach Games were held in Sanya, China, from April 22 to 30. Choudhary was part of India’s men’s beach kabaddi team that finished second and won the silver medal. The Indian women’s team, meanwhile, secured the gold medal in the event.
“The International Testing Agency (ITA), on behalf of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), reports that Indian Kabaddi player Brijendra Singh Choudhary has been sanctioned for an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV),” the ITA said in a statement.
Brinzolamide is classified as a specified substance and is prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) both in and out of competition.
As Choudhary accepted the violation, his individual results from the Asian Beach Games have been disqualified, including his second-place finish in men’s beach kabaddi. However, the ITA clarified that only Choudhary’s individual result has been affected by the anti-doping violation, meaning there is no indication that the Indian men’s team has been stripped of its silver medal.
Choudhary, an all-rounder, has also featured in the Pro Kabaddi League, representing Dabang Delhi during the 2024 season.
The ITA imposed the sanction under Article 8.3.3 of the OCA Anti-Doping Rules, which allows sanctions to be issued without a formal hearing when an athlete does not contest an anti-doping violation.
With the OCA matter now considered resolved, the case will be transferred to the International Kabaddi Federation, which will determine any further consequences, including a potential suspension, under its own rules. The decision can be appealed before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) by parties with the right to appeal.
(With PTI Inputs)
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Ask News18Brijendra Singh Choudhary was stripped of his silver medal from the 2026 Asian Beach Games after testing positive for brinzolamide, a prohibited diuretic and masking agent, during an in-competition test on April 27. He accepted the anti-doping rule violation and the resulting sanction.
Ask News18September 08, 2026, 21:05 IST
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