New Delhi: The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) on Thursday named Yashvir Singh as Neeraj Chopra’s replacement for the upcoming Asian Games (Sept 19-Oct 4) while long-distance runner Abhishek Pal and 110m hurdler Tejas Shirse have been omitted from the squad. India’s track and field squad now stands at 77.
“We have brought in Yashvir who is a CWG medal winner in place of Neeraj Chopra who is currently injured.
It was an injury replacement, so there was no problem (in Yashvir coming in),” AFI President Bahadur Singh Sagoo said in Ludhiana.
Shirse and Abhishek were included in the 73-member Indian athletics team announced by the Sports Ministry earlier this month. Because of the issues he is facing, “Long-distance runner Abhishek Pal has been dropped. So this is the final team for the Asian Games,” Sagoo added. “It’s not a case of (Abhishek) returning dope positive. The presence of the substance was below threshold level. NADA is currently investigating but we did not want to take any risk.
Abhishek was served notice by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) last month after his sample was found to contain a female fertility drug which officials said was “below threshold level”. So, we have dropped Abhishek from the team,” AFI’s planning commission chief Lalit Bhanot said. The ministry added six more track and field athletes on Wednesday.
