Asian Games-bound pistol shooter fails dope test

Indian pistol shooter Gaurav Kumar Masoori bound for the 2026 Asian Games has tested positive for banned substance propranolol and its metabolite 4-hydroxy-propranolol on Wednesday.

The Bagpat shooter was selected to be part of the Indian contingent for the 2026 Asian Games and the upcoming ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou, China.

According to a report in The Tribune, Masoori has been issued an adverse analytical finding (AAF) notification by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) after his sample tested positive for propranolol and its metabolite 4-hydroxy-propranolol.

Propranolol is a beta blocker that lowers heart rate and is prohibited in precision sports like shooting as it can give athletes a competitive edge.

As per the NADA notification, Masoori has not been provisionally suspended and is eligible to compete. Masoori’s sample was collected during the Kumar Surendra Singh Memorial Shooting Championship, held in New Delhi from April 28 to May 15.

In hindsight, the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) named Akash Bharadwaj as Masoori’s replacement in the 10m air pistol event for the upcoming Asian Games. Kedarling Uchaganve and Kamaljeet are the other two Indians in the event.

But the organisers of the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou have declined India’s request to make a replacement in the entry list.

“We had to take the decision to replace his name in the Asian Games squad as he has been issued a notification. We would not have been able to make the change in time for the Games if we had delayed the decision,” NRAI Secretary General Pawan Singh told The Tribune on Wednesday.

Masoori, in his doping control form, had declared the use of a painkiller.

“In our reply, we have stated what was mentioned in the doping control form — that he had taken a painkiller. We have, however, decided not to seek testing of the B sample. All we can do now is wait for NADA’s decision,” coach Shekhar Tomar said.