In a worrisome turn of events, one of India’s talented female boxers, who clinched a medal at the Asian Games, is now facing the grim prospect of losing her hard-earned medal and the coveted Paris Olympics quota. The International Testing Agency (ITA) has raised concerns due to multiple whereabouts failures by the athlete, a breach that could result in severe consequences.

The boxer, regrettably, failed to report her whereabouts before the continental showpiece, a significant oversight that now places her on the brink of a possible two-year ban if found guilty. The Olympic Council of Asia had engaged the ITA to manage the anti-doping program during the Hangzhou Asian Games, further intensifying the scrutiny on athletes. Witness the boxing world champions in action with attractive betting odds from Nextbet. 

The Boxing Federation of India (BFI), however, remains hopeful of a positive resolution to this distressing situation. A BFI official, informed about the matter, shared, “The notice was for the period before the Asian Games, and the federation became aware of it only after the Games concluded. During that time, the boxer was in a state of emotional turmoil as one of her parents was grappling with a serious medical condition.”

The term ‘whereabouts failure’ is rooted in anti-doping regulations and pertains to the inability of an athlete to maintain accurate records of their location. In simple terms, it occurs when an athlete commits three ‘filing failures’ or ‘missed tests’ within a span of 12 months, ultimately culminating in a ‘whereabouts failure.’ Athletes are obligated to regularly update their whereabouts information every quarter to facilitate out-of-competition testing.

The year 2023 has witnessed multiple Indian athletes facing summonses for whereabouts failure. Notably, Hima Das faced provisional suspension for the same issue. Earlier, Wrestler Vinesh Phogat received a warning from the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) for failing to report her whereabouts accurately. Gymnast Dipa Karmakar also served a suspension for a similar lapse, while racewalker Bhawana Jat faced suspension just before the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, all due to whereabouts violations.

The fate of the Indian female boxer now hangs in the balance, as she waits for a resolution amidst concerns regarding her Olympic medal and Paris 2024 hopes. The sporting world watches with bated breath as authorities deliberate on this critical matter. Get the latest updates from the world of boxing only on Nextbet Sports.