The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced the list of Indian athletes for the 2024 Olympic Games. A 30-member Indian athletics team was scheduled to travel to Paris. That number is now down to 29. Athlete Abha Kathua has not been named in the team for the Paris Olympics.
Neither the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) nor the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has given any reason for the suspension. According to media reports, Abha has been dropped from the team due to high testosterone levels.
At the Federation Cup in May, Abha had set a national record with a throw of 18.41 m. She was ranked 21st in the Road to Paris rankings and thus qualified for the Paris Olympics as well. However, her name was removed at the last moment. According to the report, World Athletics has barred Aabha from participating due to a difference of Sexual Development Regulation (DSD) violation.
The Times of India quoted a source as saying that Abha's name has been removed not because of doping but because of the DSD regulation. Officials of the Athletics Integrity Unit may have noticed this during last year's Asian Championships in Bangkok.
In the same sample, the level of trestron is likely to have increased, which is why World Athletics has taken this decision. An AFI official only said that the federation was not aware of it. When contacted, World Athletics officials declined to comment on the matter.
Responding to a question related to Abha, the official said, "World Athletics does not specifically react to individual selection decisions. Born to a farmer in Khurshi village in West Midnapore district of West Bengal, Abha tried various track and field sports before taking up shooting five years ago.
