Kerala’s A.B. Arun, the record-breaking triple jumper from the National Games, has been handed a four-year suspension by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) as per Sportstar.

The ban, effective from December 14, 2023, comes after Arun tested positive for Mephentermine and its metabolites Phentermine, both prohibited substances under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules.

The 26-year-old stunned the athletics world last year by achieving a record-breaking 16.79m jump at the National Games in Goa, surpassing the previous record of 16.68m set by Asian Games bronze medallist Praveen Chithravel.

However, his remarkable achievement has now been invalidated due to the doping violation.

This is a significant setback for Kerala, as Arun’s performance was celebrated as a landmark moment for the state. The disqualification tarnishes his reputation and raises concerns about the growing trend of doping in Indian athletics.

NADA’s disciplinary panel, in its ruling dated November 27, 2024, also stripped Arun of his National Games gold medal. The suspension prevents him from competing in athletics until December 2027, effectively sidelining him from the sport during his prime years.

Arun’s case is the latest in a series of doping scandals in Indian sports. Earlier, Haryana’s sprinter Deepanshi received a three-year ban for a similar violation.