Mumbai, July 9: Paris Olympics quarterfinalist and Asian Championships silver medalist wrestler Reetika Hooda – who competes in the women’s 76kg category – has been provisionally suspended by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) after her sample returned positive for prohibited substances.Reetika, one of the country’s brightest hopes in the women’s wrestling after becoming the first-ever female grappler to qualify in a heavyweight category (76kg) at the Paris Games, was tested by the Nada’s dope control officers (DCOs) during a selection trial at the Indira Gandhi (IG) stadium here, where the national camp is currently underway.
After her positive dope result, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) told Reetika to leave the camp immediately and head back to her hometown in Haryana’s Rohtak.
Reetika’s suspension period has kicked off on July 7 after the revelation of adverse analytical finding (AAF) and she will now have to appear before the Nada’s Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP) to prove her innocence. Since this being her first doping offence, Reetika is staring at a possible four-year ban.