A day after the Punjab police said that Olympic medallist Vijender Singh had consumed heroin at least 12 times, the Sports Ministry asked the National Anti-Doping Agency to carry out tests on the boxer.
Vijender, who has been shying away from giving blood and hair samples, will have to agree to sample testing by the NADA as it is the premier government body mandated to check athletes during or out-of-competition. After this direction, NADA will collect Vijender’s blood and urine samples and send it to the National Dope Testing Lab in Delhi. If Vijender’s samples test positive, his boxing career may be sealed, though he can appeal for a second test.
If his report tests negative, he can claim innocence saying he never consumed drugs, and mere contact with drug criminals may not be sufficient for the Punjab police to chargesheet him.