Commonwealth Games hosts India face doping shame

Four Indian wrestlers and a shot-putter were suspended from next month's Commonwealth Games on home soil after failing drug tests, officials said on Friday.

All five tested positive for methylhexaneamine, a banned stimulant used widely as a nasal decongestant, according to Rahul Bhatnagar, who heads the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA).

Three male wrestlers, Rajiv Tomar, Sumit Kumar and Masuam Khatri, female wrestler Gursharanpreet Kaur and male shot-putter Saurav Vij were suspended pending tests of their "B" samples.

They were all thrown out of the national squads for the Commonwealth Games which begin in the Indian capital New Delhi on October 3.

Two other wrestlers and an athlete, who were not part of the Games squad, also tested positive, Bhatnagar said.

"It is unfortunate these failed tests came just before the Games," Bhatnagar said. "But we have a no-tolerance policy towards that. They can get their 'B' tests done if they want."

Wrestling and athletics officials said the tests were done during pre-Games trials and camps and were hoping to name replacements in the respective squads.

Doping has afflicted Indian sport over the last decade with weightlifters being the chief culprits.

The Indian weightlifting federation was fined 500,000 dollars by the world governing body after six lifters failed dope tests last year.

The federation managed to pay only 125,000 dollars and were forced to take an interest-free loan from Games organisers to pay the rest of the fine and ensure their participation in Delhi 2010.