World Para Athletics Champion Simran Sharma’s guide Umar Saifi provisionally suspended for doping

World Para Athletics Championships gold medalist Simran Sharma is highly likely to lose her title, as her guide Umar Saifi has been handed a provisional suspension by the National Anti-Doping Agency for failing to clear a dope test. Last month, Saifi pulled off a 200m gold at the Delhi State Open. It is believed that the dope test has been conducted in Delhi only and there he tested positive for using banned substance Drostanolone. On October 10, NADA published the updated list of provisionally suspended athletes in which Umar’s name also featured.

As per the International Paralympic Committee guideline, Simran might lose her medals if Saifi fails to emerge innocent. “Yes, there is a big chance of Simran and India losing both medals. The guide is also

considered an athlete and part of the event. The guide also gets a medal and certificate though only the medal of the athlete is counted,” remarked Indian Para Athletics Chairman Satyanarayana in a conversation with PTI.

Simran hit the headlines for her bronze medal in the Paris Paralympics last year. However, her guide during that time was Abhay Singh. Recently, Simran, allying with Saifi, also clinched women’s 100m T12 gold medal and women’s 200m T12 silver medal at the World Para Athletics Championships at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi.

Simran Sharma’s husband and coach Gajendra Sharma gave a statement on the matter

Simran Sharma’s husband and coach Gajendra Sharma has asserted that they had no idea about Saifi using prohibited drugs. “This is news for us also. We don’t have any idea about this, he might have tested somewhere from the World Championships,” said Gajendra.

On the latest NADA list, 30 new names have featured and among those, prominent personalities such as wrestler Reetika Hooda and sprinter S Dhanalakshmi are also included. A huge cause of concern is that five minors are also there on the chart among which two wrestlers, two weightlifters, and a kabaddi player are also there.