Indian running sensation Parvej Khan has been provisionally suspended by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) after failing a dope test.
The 19-year-old middle-distance runner Parvej made it to the headlines recently after his exploits at the NCAA circuit in the United States of America.
Parvej might be looking at a maximum ban of four years if he is proven guilty of doping.
“Yes, he (Parvej Khan) has been provisionally suspended (by the NADA) after failing a dope test,” a top source privy to the development told PTI on Friday.
The date of commencement of the provisional suspension handed by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) is not known. The nature of the banned substance could also not be confirmed.
The dope samples returning positive test are likely to be the samples collected during the National Inter-State Championships (June 27 to 30) in Panchkula where he was competing in a domestic event for the first time after 2023.
He was hailed as the new Indian track sensation as he became the first from the country to qualify for the final of a track event in the NCAA Championships of the United States earlier this year. He is currently studying at the University of Florida on a scholarship.
Parvej Khan clocked a personal best time of 3:36.21 in 1500m at the Portland Track Festival on June 9 in the USA, the second fastest time by an Indian behind Jinson Johnson’s national record of 3:35.24 in 2019.
While the athlete didn’t reply to any communication made to him, a source close to the athlete revealed that there is no communication at the moment from NADA to the athlete.
As per the sources, Parvej has tested positive for EPO which is a red blood cell-boosting drug that helps in enhancing the endurance of an athlete in the doping world.
In the medical field, it is used to boost red blood cells in cancer patients or for those who might need it while undergoing cancer treatment.