Doha: Indian woman athlete Seema Antil has been withdrawn from Asian Games contingent after testing positive for a banned drug in out-of-competition tests, according to team officials.
The 23-year-old national record holder in discus throw, had tested positive for a banned steroid in dope tests conducted before the Games, the officials said.
"Seema has been withdrawn from the Asian Games contingent after testing positive for a banned steroid," the officials said requesting anonimity. However, Chef De Mission Ramlal Thakur said he was not aware of any such development.
"I am not aware of such a development. As far as we know the list of athletes has been prepared by the Federation and Seema Antil's name is still in that list."
He said the athletic contingent was supposed to arrive in batches from Monday for the Games and "only after that we will have a clearer picture."
When Seema, the Melbourne Commonwealth Games silver medallist, returned home from the athletics squad's training camp in Muscat, AFI General Secretary Lalit Bhanot had said "she is back due to her father's illness."
Seema was a dope offender earlier when she tested positive for ephidrene during the World Junior Athletics Championships in Santiago, Chile in 2000 which she attributed to a cough syrup. AFI officials, on the other hand, went underground with no one being available on their phones.
However, Indian Olympic Association President Suresh Kalmadi, who is the former AFI chief, said that he was not aware of any such development as he had just landed in India from Doha, where he had gone to attend the Olympic Council of Asia meeting.
"I have no idea. I have just landed here. You can ask Lalit Bhanot (AFI General Secretary) about it," he said.
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