(MENAFN- Arab Times) Four Indian athletes have tested positive for banned substances during a national-level competition last month.
The Hindu newspaper on Wednesday named Rohit Kumar (javelin), Kirpal Singh (discus) and Harvinder Daggar (hammer) as having tested for anabolic steroids and Anshu Rai (discus) for a stimulant.
India's National Anti-Doping Agency confirmed four athletes tested positive at the Federation Cup in the northern city of Patiala from April 21-23 but refused to name the athletes pending B sample tests.
It confirmed three athletes who tested positive for anabolic steroids were given provisional suspensions but there had been no decision on the fourth athlete.
In Sydney, Australian national women's boxing champion Bianca Elmir, a top Olympic medal prospect, has been banned from competition after testing positive for a banned substance, authorities said Wednesday.
A diuretic was found in her urine during the Australian titles earlier this year where she won the 51kg division, the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) said.
She was advised of the findings earlier this month.
"Boxing Australia, after consulting with ASADA, provisionally suspended the athlete on May 7, 2012 to uphold the integrity of boxing, the World Championships and the Australian Olympic team," it said.
Elmir, a three-time Australian champion, appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport but lost.
Her manager Alex Belperio told ABC radio she took the diuretic for swelling in her ankles after a long plane trip from Ireland to Australia.
"She took (the diuretic) just to try and decrease that ahead of competition, ahead of the nationals that were in Hobart," he said.
Diuretics help rid the body of excess fluids and although banned by the International Olympic Committee have been used by athletes as a performance-enhancing supplement and for weight maintenance.
It was not clear how long the suspension would last but Belperio said Elmir was resigned to missing out on the Olympics.
"It's tough, she was identified as a great white hope, if you will, for Australian women's boxing and looking to make history as the first female boxer to represent the country at the Olympics," he said.
Women's boxing will debut as a full Olympic sport in London in July.
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