Tulika Mann Suspended Amid Doping Scandal Ahead of CWG 2026

The Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2026 have taken a significant hit for India as Tulika Mann, a prominent contender for a medal, has been suspended due to a doping infraction. The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) has confirmed that Mann was found guilty of a whereabouts failure, a serious violation that has led to her provisional suspension from the sport. Scheduled to compete in the women's 78 kg category, which is set for the final days of the games on August 1 and 2, her absence is a considerable setback for the Indian judo team. NADA's findings indicate that Mann missed two mandatory drug tests in 2025, which triggered the suspension under Article 2.4 of the National Anti-Doping Rules, 2021. This incident not only impacts her career but also diminishes India's hopes for a strong performance in judo at the upcoming games.

The Indian judo team, which initially comprised 14 athletes, has now been reduced to 12 following this suspension. Tulika Mann is the second judo athlete to be withdrawn from the competition due to doping allegations, as earlier this week, Arun Kumar, a wrestler in the men's 73 kg category, was also suspended for similar reasons. The loss of these two key athletes raises concerns about the overall strength of the Indian judo contingent as they prepare for the competition in Glasgow. Mann's previous achievements, including a silver medal at the Birmingham 2022 Games, positioned her as one of India's most promising judo talents, and her absence is felt deeply within the sporting community. With the judo events scheduled to commence on July 31 and run through August 2, the team must now regroup and strategize without two of their top competitors.