India’s Commonwealth Games 2026 campaign has suffered another significant setback after Olympian and Birmingham 2022 silver medallist Tulika Maan was provisionally suspended by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) over alleged whereabouts failures, ruling her out of the Glasgow Games before the Indian judo squad’s departure.
Tulika, one of India’s leading medal hopes in the women’s +78kg category, has been withdrawn from the Games after allegedly accumulating three whereabouts failures within a rolling 12-month period, a violation that can trigger sanctions under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code and India’s National Anti-Doping Rules (NADR) 2021.
Provisional suspension over whereabouts failures
According to sources, the 26-year-old has been summoned by NADA and is scheduled to appear before the anti-doping body as part of the disciplinary process.
Under Article 2.4 of the National Anti-Doping Rules, athletes in the Registered Testing Pool (RTP) are required to regularly update their whereabouts through the Anti-Doping Administration and Management System (ADAMS) to facilitate out-of-competition testing.
Any combination of three whereabouts failures, including missed tests and filing failures, within a 12-month period may constitute an anti-doping rule violation, even in the absence of a positive test for a prohibited substance.
Tulika has been placed under provisional suspension pending the outcome of the case.
Major blow to India’s medal hopes
The suspension comes at a crucial stage, with India’s judo contingent set to leave for Glasgow on July 27, while the competition begins on July 31.
Tulika was among India’s strongest medal contenders after winning silver in the women’s +78kg category at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Her absence significantly weakens India’s chances in judo at Glasgow 2026.
The development adds to the challenges facing India’s Commonwealth Games campaign as the country looks to improve on its medal haul from the previous edition.
If found guilty after the disciplinary process, Tulika could face sanctions under the National Anti-Doping Rules. However, the proceedings are ongoing, and no final decision has been announced.