ISLAMABAD: Prominent Pakistani wrestler Inam Butt has tested positive for doping following a test conducted during the Asian Beach Games in China in April, sources said.
The two-time gold medallist had taken medication for an eye-related condition before the Games, but sources close to the wrestler said the medicine was not linked to performance enhancement or increasing strength. Inam Butt underwent a doping test while competing at the Asian Beach Games held in China in April, with the test subsequently returning a positive result.
The development could lead to disciplinary action against the internationally renowned Pakistani wrestler if the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is not satisfied with his explanation.
Sources close to Inam said he had used medication as part of treatment for an eye-related condition before the Games. They stressed that the medication had nothing to do with increasing strength or gaining a performance-enhancing advantage.
Inam has provided WADA with details of the medicines he took, as well as his medical scans and the prescription issued by his doctor. According to the sources, WADA had allowed Inam to use the medication for a period of one year. Discussions between the wrestler and World Anti-Doping authorities are currently continuing as he seeks to clarify the circumstances surrounding the positive doping test.
If WADA is not satisfied with Inam Butt’s explanation and the medical evidence submitted by him, the wrestler could face a ban. For now, talks between Inam and the anti-doping authorities remain ongoing, with the final outcome expected after the matter is reviewed.
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