Thai shuttler provisionally suspended over anti-doping violation

Thai badminton player Pitchamon Opatniputh has been provisionally suspended from the ongoing 2026 Asian Games over an apparent anti-doping rule violation, the International Testing Agency said on Monday.

The ITA said an out-of-competition sample collected from Opatniputh in Nagoya on September 17 returned an Adverse Analytical Finding for furosemide. The substance is listed by the World Anti-Doping Agency as a specified substance prohibited at all times under the category of diuretics and masking agents.

Opatniputh has been notified of the case and provisionally suspended pending its resolution under the World Anti-Doping Code and OCA Anti-Doping Rules.

"This means that the athlete is prevented from competing, training, coaching, or participating in any activity, during the Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026," wrote the ITA.

Opatniputh has the right to challenge the suspension before the Court of Arbitration for Sport's Anti-Doping Division and to request analysis of the B-sample.

The ITA said it would not comment further while the proceedings are ongoing.