TAP TO UNMUTE

In another dope shame for India, Arjuna awardee and national team goalkeeper Subrata Pal has failed a dope test conducted by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) and now faces suspension.

Sources have confirmed that NADA sent a letter to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Monday, informing that the player had failed the dope test. However, there is no confirmation if he has already been suspended.

Pal, 30, who started for the NorthEast United in the Indian Super League, was tested during the national team camp in Mumbai on March 18, following which NADA took the required course.

As per reports, the test was conducted a day before the Indian Football team left for Cambodia for playing a friendly match ahead of the AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Myanmar.

The ‘dope shame’ for India has been on the rise in recent years, and has such cases have become frequent since 2009.

As per a Times of India article that featured last year, more than 687 Indian athletes have been banned following dope-related offences since 2009. What this means is than an average of 100 Indian athletes face ban risk every year due to doping.

In 2014, India was third in world's doping offenders' list, behind Russia and Italy, showing how deep the malaise has spread.