Thai badminton player pops positive in first doping case

Thai women’s badminton player Pitchamon Opatniputh became the first known doping case at the Asian Games in Japan yesterday, testers said.

The 19-year-old returned a positive test for banned substance furosemide and has been provisionally suspended, the International Testing Agency said.

The teenager, ranked 18th in the world and regarded as a rising star back home, had been due to face China on Tuesday.

Thailand’s Pitchamon Opatniputh plays badminton in a tournament in Jakarta on Jan. 25.

Photo: AFP

The first full day of badminton action at Asia’s biggest sporting spectacular was on Sunday.

“The athlete is prevented from competing, training, coaching or participating in any activity during the Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026,” the ITA said.

The agency noted that Pitchamon can challenge the provisional suspension at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

“The athlete also has the right to request the analysis of the B-sample,” it added.

Furosemide could be used to shed water for rapid weight loss.

The sample was collected by the ITA during out-of-competition testing on September 17.