DP Manu was in the initial entry list for the National Inter-State Championships which began on Thursday. But his name was later dropped from the updated roster. This could jeopardize his dream of competing in the Paris Olympics
Javelin thrower DP Manu has been asked to stay away from competitions by the Athletics Federation of India on the instructions of the National Anti-Doping Agency as the Olympic hopeful is suspected to have been caught in the dope net. (More Sports News)
He was in the initial entry list for the National Inter-State Championships which began on Thursday. But his name has been dropped from the updated roster.
AFI president Adille Sumariwalla told PTI that NADA has asked the federation to stop Manu from competitions but he did not confirm whether the athlete has committed a doping offence.
"There could be something like that, but we still don't know what is the actual thing. There was a phone call to AFI office (from the NADA) yesterday that he (Manu) be stopped from competitions," Sumariwalla said.
"Otherwise there are no details (on what kind of possible violation). I think the athlete himself (DP Manu) is finding out from the NADA what is the exact thing."
Manu finished second behind Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra with a throw of 82.06m in the Federation Cup from May 15 to 19 in Bhubaneswar. He later won gold in Taiwan Athletics Open in Taipei City on June 1 with a throw of 81.58m.
Manu was 15th in the World Athletics Road to Paris list and on course to qualify for Paris Olympics as 32 athletes will compete in the men's javelin throw event. The qualification deadline is June 30.
Chopra and Kishore Jena have already secured automatic qualification for the Olympics after breaching the entry standard of 85.50m.
A country can have a maximum of three athletes in an Olympics track and field event.