PUNE: In a major embarrassment for Indian rowing, and the Army Rowing Node (ARN) in particular, World Cup gold medallist Lakshay has been provisionally suspended after testing positive in an out-of-competition dope test. Lakshay, who combined with Ujjwal Singh to win the lightweight double sculls gold at World Cup III in Switzerland last month, tested positive for stanozolol in a sample collected in Pune on May 25. The triumph was India’s first-ever gold at a rowing World Cup. The result now stands to be annulled if the anti-doping violation is confirmed. The development is also a blow to India’s preparations for this year’s Asian Games, with the Lakshay-Ujjwal combination considered a medal prospect.The 23-year-old havildar from Haryana had won the lightweight double sculls gold with Ajay Tyagi at last year’s Asian Championships in Vietnam, where he was also part of the silver-winning quadruple sculls team.
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