Four Pakistani kabaddi players have been handed four-year bans after refusing to undergo doping tests during the National Kabaddi Championship held in Lahore.
According to officials, the athletes declined to provide samples when approached for doping control. Under international anti-doping regulations, refusal to submit a sample is treated as a confirmed violation, equivalent to a positive test result.
Following the incident, the Anti-Doping Organization of Pakistan (ADOP) issued an official notification imposing a four-year suspension on all four players in line with established rules.
The banned athletes have been identified as Ubaidullah Rajput, Malik Bin Yameen, Rana Haider, and Kashif Sandhu. According to the notification, the ban will take effect from October 21, 2026.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Kabaddi Federation has announced a meeting of its disciplinary committee scheduled for January 12 in Lahore. The committee will be chaired by Rana Amjad Iqbal, with Akhtar Abbas, Colonel Nabil, Sohail Ahmed, and Rana Sarwar named as members.
The four players have been summoned to appear before the committee to present their position on the matter. Officials warned that failure to appear will result in the ban being enforced without further proceedings.
The incident comes amid growing scrutiny of discipline and compliance in Pakistani kabaddi. Last year, another national player faced controversy after being seen wearing an Indian team jersey, highlighting ongoing governance challenges within the sport.
