Commonwealth Games 2026: Doping scandal sidelines Indian athletes

The 2026 Commonwealth Games opened in Glasgow's The Hydro on July 23, with King Charles III and Queen Camilla presiding over the ceremony. The event features athletes from 74 nations and territories, with more than 3,000 competitors. India sent a delegation of 124 athletes to compete in sports including powerlifting, gymnastics, swimming, lawn bowls and boxing.

Before the Games began, four Indian athletes were removed for doping violations. Pistol shooter Gautam Kumar Masuri tested positive for a prohibited substance, judoka Arjun Kumar received a provisional ban, and female judoka Tulika Mann was suspended after multiple missed tests. In weightlifting, a slot was lost after five doping cases were recorded, reducing the team’s entries from 16 to 11. Weightlifter Dilbagh Singh, though not implicated, was sent back to India because of the reduced quota. These removals have trimmed India's medal prospects and highlighted anti‑doping enforcement at the Games.