India's Commonwealth Games campaign in Glasgow has suffered a major setback after silver medallist Tulika Maan was withdrawn from the squad following a provisional suspension imposed by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA). The suspension stems from three whereabouts failures within a 12-month period and could result in a two-year ban under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) regulations.
Maan, who claimed the silver medal in the women's +78kg event at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, had been considered one of India's leading medal contenders in Glasgow before the suspension ruled her out of the competition. A member of the Indian judo contingent confirmed that Maan had been removed from the team after receiving a notice from NADA over repeated whereabouts failures.
A judo coach told PTI on condition of anonymity,“She has committed three whereabouts failures in a 12-month period and NADA has sent notice to her. So, she will be withdrawn from the team." The 27-year-old becomes the second Indian judoka to be ruled out of the Games in as many days after Arun Kumar was provisionally suspended for returning a positive out-of-competition dope test.
India's Judo Medal Prospects Take a Hit After Maan's Withdrawal
India's judo campaign at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow has suffered another significant blow with Tulika Maan's withdrawal. The development comes just a day after men's -73kg judoka Arun Kumar was dropped from the squad following a positive test for an anabolic steroid in an out-of-competition doping test conducted by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA).
India had named a 14-member judo squad for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games after winning three medals in Birmingham in 2022. Maan's absence significantly weakens India's medal hopes in the women's heavyweight category and comes as another setback for the Indian contingent, with two players being withdrawn before the competition even began.
Maan is among India's most accomplished judokas in recent years. Apart from winning a Commonwealth Games silver medal in Birmingham in 2022, she represented India at the Paris Olympics in 2024 and also competed at the World Championships in 2022 and 2024.
