Neeraj Yadav death: 3-time Asian Para Games gold medallist found dead at 42 amid doping suspension
Indian para-athlete Neeraj Yadav, a three-time Asian Para Games gold medallist, was found dead at a flat on Tuesday night, with the circumstances surrounding his death yet to be established, sources told The Times of India (TOI).
The 42-year-old competed in the F55 category. A postmortem examination was underway at Delhi's GTB Hospital on Wednesday, according to the report.
Yadav, who hailed from Uttar Pradesh, was among India's accomplished para-athletes. He was diagnosed with post-polio residual paralysis at the age of seven but continued to pursue sports.
He played wheelchair tennis from 2005 to 2012 before moving to para-athletics. His breakthrough came at the 2015 Delhi State Athletics Meet, where he won gold medals in the shot put, javelin and discus events.
Neeraj Yadav's death: What did the para-athletics coach say?
India's chief para-athletics coach S Satyanarayana confirmed Yadav's death to TOI, saying he had learnt that the athlete had died by suicide. The coach said Yadav was suspected to have consumed poison at his flat. The cause and circumstances of his death had not been officially established at the time of reporting.
“Yes, Neeraj has died by suicide. That is what I have also come to know. I have been told that he consumed poison at his flat last night. This is extremely unfortunate and tragic,” Satyanarayana told TOI.
The coach also suggested that Yadav may have been dealing with emotional distress after missing the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games because of a doping suspension. However, he said it was not possible to know for certain what the athlete had been going through.
“He would have been looking forward to competing at these Games. Medals at the Asian Para Games can bring substantial government cash awards and opportunities for stable employment. But his suspension had not ended, and he could not compete. It is possible that this affected him deeply, but we cannot say for certain what he was going through,” Satyanarayana added.
Paralympic champion Sumit Antil and fellow para-athlete Vipin Kasana were also present at the hospital, sources told TOI.
Neeraj Yadav's Asian Para Games gold medals
Yadav made his mark internationally at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta. He won gold in the men's F55 javelin throw with an Asian-record effort of 29.84 metres.
At the 2023 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, he won two more gold medals, taking the javelin and discus titles. Those victories brought his Asian Para Games gold medal tally to three.
Why was Neeraj Yadav suspended?
Yadav's career was affected by an anti-doping case. The National Anti-Doping Agency provisionally suspended him after an out-of-competition sample collected in Bengaluru in October 2023 tested positive for stanozolol, an anabolic steroid.
He later sought DNA testing of his sample through the anti-doping disciplinary process. His suspension prevented him from competing at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games, according to the account provided by the coach to TOI.
The circumstances surrounding Yadav's death remain under investigation, and no confirmed link has been established between his suspension and his death.
(With inputs from TOI)
The 42-year-old competed in the F55 category. A postmortem examination was underway at Delhi's GTB Hospital on Wednesday, according to the report.
Yadav, who hailed from Uttar Pradesh, was among India's accomplished para-athletes. He was diagnosed with post-polio residual paralysis at the age of seven but continued to pursue sports.
He played wheelchair tennis from 2005 to 2012 before moving to para-athletics. His breakthrough came at the 2015 Delhi State Athletics Meet, where he won gold medals in the shot put, javelin and discus events.
Neeraj Yadav's death: What did the para-athletics coach say?
India's chief para-athletics coach S Satyanarayana confirmed Yadav's death to TOI, saying he had learnt that the athlete had died by suicide. The coach said Yadav was suspected to have consumed poison at his flat. The cause and circumstances of his death had not been officially established at the time of reporting.
“Yes, Neeraj has died by suicide. That is what I have also come to know. I have been told that he consumed poison at his flat last night. This is extremely unfortunate and tragic,” Satyanarayana told TOI.
The coach also suggested that Yadav may have been dealing with emotional distress after missing the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games because of a doping suspension. However, he said it was not possible to know for certain what the athlete had been going through.
“He would have been looking forward to competing at these Games. Medals at the Asian Para Games can bring substantial government cash awards and opportunities for stable employment. But his suspension had not ended, and he could not compete. It is possible that this affected him deeply, but we cannot say for certain what he was going through,” Satyanarayana added.
Paralympic champion Sumit Antil and fellow para-athlete Vipin Kasana were also present at the hospital, sources told TOI.
Neeraj Yadav's Asian Para Games gold medals
Yadav made his mark internationally at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta. He won gold in the men's F55 javelin throw with an Asian-record effort of 29.84 metres.
At the 2023 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, he won two more gold medals, taking the javelin and discus titles. Those victories brought his Asian Para Games gold medal tally to three.
Why was Neeraj Yadav suspended?
Yadav's career was affected by an anti-doping case. The National Anti-Doping Agency provisionally suspended him after an out-of-competition sample collected in Bengaluru in October 2023 tested positive for stanozolol, an anabolic steroid.
He later sought DNA testing of his sample through the anti-doping disciplinary process. His suspension prevented him from competing at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games, according to the account provided by the coach to TOI.
The circumstances surrounding Yadav's death remain under investigation, and no confirmed link has been established between his suspension and his death.
(With inputs from TOI)
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