DP Manu tests positive for doping; might face a four-year ban: Reports

According to the reports published on Sportstar, Indian ace javelin thrower DP Manu tested positive for the steroid methyltestosterone. Notably, he was tested during the Indian Grand Prix Athletics Meet in Bengaluru on April 30, 2024, after winning the title with a throw of 81.91m.

Manu, hailing from Hassan, Karnataka, is currently under provisional suspension. Though he tried to get a stay on the provisional suspension through an appeal, it was later rejected. If the charges are proven by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), Manu might face a four-year ban.

Most recently, he was included in the initial starting list of the National Inter-State Athletics Championships 2024 in Panchkula, Haryana, he was later removed from the final starting list, raising doubts among many.

Manu, who would’ve qualified through the world rankings for the Paris Olympics 2024, has been omitted from the final 30-member squad for Paris 2024 revealed by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) on Friday, July 5.

Importantly, Manu was placed at the 15th rank in the Road to Paris rankings released by the World Athletics and he was well within the slot of 32 javelin throwers to qualify for Paris Olympics 2024.

A country can field a maximum of three athletes in an event at Paris 2024. Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra and Kishore Jena are two Indian javelin throwers who have qualified for the Olympics.

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DP Manu had an excellent season in the lead-up to Paris Olympics 2024

Though Kishore Jena earned the direct qualification after achieving the entry standard of 85.50m at the Asian Games 2023 in China after throwing a distance of 87.54m, securing a silver medal, India was eyeing the third spot through DP Manu.

Manu had participated in three competitions in this year. At the Indian Grand Prix in Bengaluru, he secured the gold medal, with a throw of 81.91m. Later in the Federation Cup in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha, he covered a distance of 82.06m.

In June 2024, DP Manu was able to cover 81.58m with his throw at the Taiwan meet. Under the Sports Ministry and Sports Authority of India’s (SAI) Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), Manu trained at the North West University High Performance Centre in Potchefstroom in March in the lead-up to Paris 2024.

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