India's historic first ever World Rowing Cup gold medal has been revoked after Lakshay tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid stanozolol, leading to a four year suspension by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA). Even after achieving a historic gold medal triumph for the first time in Switzerland - Lakshay and Ujjwal Kumar Singh’s accolades are stripped off.
Lakshay's sample, collected during an out of competition test on May 25 in Pune showed positive signs for the banned substance Stanozolol. As a result, all of his performances from that date onward of the test have been disqualified leading India to be stripped of the maiden gold medal triumph
The 2026 World Rowing Cup season concluded in June 2026, dominated by the United States winning its first-ever overall World Cup title and Great Britain topping the medal standings at the final in Lucerne. India secured their first-ever gold medal in World Rowing Cup history at the Lucerne regatta, by Lakshay and Ujjwal Kumar Singh in the Lightweight Men's Double Sculls (time: 6:26.09).
Lakshay’s future participation in rowing at Asian Games is in jeopardy too
Indian rower Lakshay’s participation in the upcoming Asian Games is under scrutiny after he was provisionally suspended by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) for testing positive for the prohibited anabolic steroid stanozolol.
The duo Lakshay and Ujjwal Kumar Singh were seen as one of India's top medal contenders for the upcoming Asian Games scheduled to begin on September 19, 2026, in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, a prospect now affected by the ban.
