CWG 2026: Tulika Maan withdrawn from Glasgow after NADA suspension
Synopsis
India's judo campaign at Glasgow 2026 has been rocked by two suspensions in under 24 hours. Silver medallist Tulika Maan is out for three whereabouts failures — not a positive test — while Arun Kumar failed an out-of-competition drug test. With judo competition starting 31 July and the squad yet to depart, India's medal hopes in the sport have taken a serious hit.
Key Takeaways
Tulika Maan , India's Birmingham 2022 silver medallist in women's +78kg judo, has been withdrawn from Glasgow CWG 2026 after a provisional NADA suspension.
Her suspension stems from three whereabouts failures within 12 months — not a positive doping test — and could result in a two-year ban under WADA rules.
Arun Kumar , set to compete in men's -73kg , was also provisionally suspended after failing an out-of-competition drug test conducted by NADA.
India had selected 14 judokas for Glasgow, aiming to improve on three medals won at the 2022 Birmingham Games .
India's judo team was scheduled to depart on 27 July ; competition begins 31 July in Glasgow.
Indian judo's Commonwealth Games campaign has been dealt a severe double blow ahead of the Glasgow 2026 Games, with silver medallist Tulika Maan withdrawn from the squad after the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) provisionally suspended her for three whereabouts failures within a 12-month period. The development was confirmed on 24 July, less than 24 hours after fellow judoka Arun Kumar was also suspended following a positive out-of-competition doping test.
Maan's Suspension Explained
The 27-year-old Maan's case does not involve a positive doping test. Instead, it stems from the anti-doping whereabouts system, under which athletes in the Registered Testing Pool must regularly update their training locations and provide a daily 60-minute window for out-of-competition testing. Under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules, accumulating three filing failures, missed tests, or a combination of both within any 12-month period constitutes an anti-doping rule violation. Maan reportedly accumulated three such failures, triggering the provisional suspension. According to WADA regulations, she now faces a potential two-year ban.
Arun Kumar Also Dropped
Arun Kumar, who was set to compete in the men's -73kg event at Glasgow, was provisionally suspended after failing an out-of-competition drug test conducted by NADA. He has also been dropped from the squad. The two suspensions in quick succession represent an unprecedented disruption to India's judo preparations for the Games.
Impact on India's Glasgow Campaign
India had fielded a squad of 14 judokas for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, building on the team's achievement of three medals at the 2022 Birmingham Games. Maan, who won a silver medal in the women's +78kg category at Birmingham, was considered one of India's foremost medal prospects. Her career credentials are significant — she represented India at the 2024 Paris Olympics and competed at both the 2022 and 2024 World Championships. Her absence leaves a conspicuous gap in India's medal aspirations.
Timeline and What Happens Next
India's judo contingent had been scheduled to depart for Glasgow on 27 July, with competition in the country set to begin on 31 July. The back-to-back suspensions have disrupted the team's pre-departure preparations. With provisional suspensions in place for both athletes, neither is eligible to compete pending the outcome of their respective anti-doping proceedings. The cases will now be referred to the relevant disciplinary panels under NADA and WADA frameworks.
Point of View
One for a positive test — expose a systemic compliance gap in Indian judo's anti-doping culture. Maan's case is particularly instructive: whereabouts violations are entirely preventable administrative failures, not ambiguous science. That a Paris Olympian and Commonwealth medallist accumulated three in 12 months points to a breakdown in athlete support systems, not just individual negligence. Indian sports federations have long treated anti-doping education as a checkbox exercise; the Glasgow episode suggests the cost of that approach is now being paid in medals.
NationPress
24 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Tulika Maan been withdrawn from CWG 2026?
Tulika Maan has been provisionally suspended by NADA for three whereabouts failures within a 12-month period, which constitutes an anti-doping rule violation under WADA rules. She has consequently been withdrawn from India's squad for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
What is a whereabouts failure in anti-doping rules?
A whereabouts failure occurs when an athlete in the Registered Testing Pool fails to accurately file their location or misses a scheduled out-of-competition test during their designated 60-minute daily window. Under WADA rules, three such failures within any 12-month period amount to an anti-doping rule violation, even without a positive drug test.
What ban does Tulika Maan face?
According to WADA regulations, Maan faces a potential two-year ban following her provisional suspension for three whereabouts failures. The final sanction will be determined by the relevant disciplinary panels.
Who is Arun Kumar and why was he suspended?
Arun Kumar is an Indian judoka who was selected for the men's -73kg event at Glasgow CWG 2026. He was provisionally suspended by NADA after failing an out-of-competition drug test, and has also been dropped from the squad.
When does India's judo competition begin at Glasgow CWG 2026?
Judo competition at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games is scheduled to begin on 31 July. India's squad was due to depart for Glasgow on 27 July, though the two suspensions have disrupted pre-departure preparations.
