Paris Olympian Wrestler Reetika Hooda Fails Dope Test: Report
Wrestler Reetika Hooda, who represented India at the Paris Olympics and won a silver medal at the Asian Championships, has tested positive for a banned substance.
The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) has provisionally suspended her, pending further investigation and confirmation through the disciplinary process, as per a report in Hindustan Times.
According to a report by Hindustan Times, Hooda has been asked to leave the ongoing national wrestling camp at the Indira Gandhi Stadium by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) following her provisional suspension for a doping violation.
The report also mentions that two other wrestlers, including an Asian Championships bronze medallist, have also tested positive for banned substances and have been provisionally suspended.
'They have left the national camp. Interestingly all three are from the same training centre in Rohtak," the official was quoted as saying to HT.
Who Is Reetika Hooda?
Reetika, who competes in the 76kg weight class, has become one of India's top wrestlers since she qualified for the Paris Olympics and reached the quarterfinals. She secured a silver medal at the Asian Championships this year, and won gold at the Ulaanbaatar ranking series in May. She was a strong contender for a medal at the world championships scheduled in Zagreb in September.
NADA provisionally suspended Reetika on July 7, 2025. It was revealed that she failed the test during a selection trial at the IG Stadium, where the women's national camp is being held. Following her failed dope test, UWW has suspended her until July 7, 2026.
The national wrestling camp resumed this year after the Sports Ministry's suspension of the Wrestling Federation of India was lifted in March. A senior WFI official mentioned that since there was no national camp for almost two years, wrestlers were training at their centres and thus were not monitored.
'The wrestlers are now in the national camp and are being regularly tested," said the official.
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Ritayan Basu
First Published:
July 08, 2025, 16:27 IST
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