India’s Commonwealth Games silver medallist Tulika Maan has been withdrawn from the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Glasgow after being provisionally suspended by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) for three whereabouts failures within 12 months. Maan, who won a silver medal in the women’s +78kg event at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, was a key medal hopeful for India at the Glasgow Games before her suspension.
The 27-year-old athlete’s withdrawal follows another Indian judoka, Arun Kumar, who was also provisionally suspended due to a positive out-of-competition doping test. This setback marks the second blow to the Indian judo team ahead of the Games. Arun Kumar, set to compete in the men’s -73kg event, failed an out-of-competition drug test conducted by NADA, leading to his suspension and removal from the squad.
India’s judo team, which was scheduled to depart for Glasgow on July 27 with matches starting on July 31, has faced disruptions in its preparations due to the consecutive suspensions. Maan’s case differs from a positive doping test as it involves the anti-doping whereabouts system, where repeated failures to update training locations and availability for testing can lead to disciplinary actions as per WADA rules.
Tulika Maan, a prominent figure in Indian judo, has a successful track record including participation in the 2024 Paris Olympics and appearances at the 2022 and 2024 World Championships. With India selecting a squad of 14 judokas for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games following their success at the 2022 Birmingham Games, Maan’s absence poses a significant setback for the country’s judo campaign.
