In a major setback for the Pakistani Athletics Federation, four national athletes, including a prominent weightlifter, have tested positive for a banned performance-enhancing drug. The doping violations were confirmed by the Pakistan Sports Board, raising concerns about the federation's ability to tackle such practices and the potential risk of an international ban. During the 34th National Games held in Quetta in May, a total of 20 doping tests were conducted, and the samples were subsequently sent to laboratories in Qatar for analysis. The results revealed that Esha Imran, a weightlifter who recently secured three gold medals in the National Games, was among the athletes who failed the tests.

 The athletes who tested positive for the use of an Anabolic Androgenic steroid, commonly administered through injections, are Rabia Ashiq, Uzair Rehman, Naeem Akhtar, and Mohammad Tahir. This steroid is known for its performance-enhancing properties and is prohibited in sports. Rabia Ashiq, renowned for her dominance in the 800m event and two previous gold medals in the National Games, now joins the list of disgraced athletes.

Naeem Akhtar and Uzair Rehman, who both earned gold medals in their respective events, have also been found guilty of doping. The international sports community maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards doping, resulting in severe consequences for athletes who test positive, including global bans from competition.

 Unfortunately, this is not the first instance of such doping incidents in Pakistan. In 2019, three top Pakistani athletes, Mehboob Ali, Mohammad Naeem, and Samiullah, tested positive for the same banned substance during the 13th South Asian Games in Nepal. As a consequence, they were banned for four years by the National Olympic Committee of Nepal with the approval of the World Anti-Doping Authority (WADA), and their medals were revoked. The recent doping violations highlight the pressing need for stricter measures and effective anti-doping programs within the Pakistani Athletics Federation to preserve the integrity of sports and safeguard the country's reputation in the international arena.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-INP