Subrata Paul, India’s veteran goalkeeper and Arjuna Award winner, has failed a dope test conducted by the National Anti-Doping Agency. He has tested positive for a banned substance, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) said on Tuesday.
“His sample A has tested positive,” AIFF secretary Kushal Das told Reuters.
“It’s now between him and NADA. He has to decide whether he wants his B sample tested,” Das said. “But of course if he needs guidance, the federation is always there.”
NADA chief Navin Agarwal also confirmed the former India captain was tested by NADA officials in March.
The test was conducted right before India’s departure to Cambodia, on March 18 in Mumbai where the national team was training ahead of the friendly against Cambodia and an the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) Asian Cup 2019 group qualifier tie against Myanmar, reported Goal.com.
The report also said that AIFF had received a written communication from NADA of the ‘A’ test results, although the exact substance in question has not been revealed.
According to FIFA regulations, a player who fails a drug test must be suspended by his/her federation within a week of the result. Currently, there has been no update on the AIFF’s action against Paul.
The 30-year-old was India’s first choice goalkeeper but has recently been displaced by Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.
