Sumit Sangwan has been banned for one year with immediate effect by the National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) for failing doping test on Thursday. Sangwan, who competed in the 2012 London Olympics and formerly a 91-kg category boxer, was set to appear for the Olympic qualifier trials. But that will not be possible now as his suspension starts with immediate effect. "Sumit Sangwan banned for 1 year with immediate effect for consuming specified prohibited substance," NADA DG Navin Agarwal posted on his twitter handle. Sangwan’s sample was collected “out of competition” (OOC) on October 10 and he tested positive for Acetazolamide, which is listed as Diuretics and masking agents under S5 of WADA’s 2019 Prohibited List.
In his defence, Sangwan refuted the consumption of any substance and pleaded that he had consulted an eye doctor pursuant to an infection in his eye and the medicines prescribed by the doctor contained that prohibited substance.Sangwan’s positive dope test has come close on the heels of international medal-winning woman boxer Neeraj Phogat testing positive for anabolic steroids.The 24-year-old Phogat was among the core probables for the 2020 Games as part of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and was dropped from the list following the failed dope test.