Para-Athlete Neeraj Yadav Dies After Reported Suicide
Asian Para Games gold medallist Neeraj Yadav has allegedly committed suicide after consuming poison at his residence, according to PTI. The F55 para-athlete was reportedly under emotional stress after a four-year doping suspension ruled him out of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games earlier this month.
His body was taken to a Delhi hospital for a postmortem examination on Wednesday. The circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear.
S Satyanarayana, head coach of India’s para-athletics team, confirmed Yadav’s death and said he had remained in contact with the athlete since the doping case emerged following the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Para Games.
Doping Suspension Dealt Blow To Career
Yadav was serving a four-year suspension after testing positive for a banned substance. The action also led to the withdrawal of his two gold medals in javelin and discus throw from the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Para Games.
Satyanarayana said Yadav had contacted him a few months ago to ask whether he could participate in selection trials for the Aichi-Nagoya Games. The coach told him he was ineligible because his suspension had not ended.
“He came under a lot of stress after the doping issue. He was serving a four-year suspension,” Satyanarayana told PTI.
The coach said losing the medals also cost Yadav a substantial government cash award and affected his prospects of securing a government job in Uttar Pradesh.
According to Satyanarayana, Yadav had been in line for a Class I government position and an award of more than Rs 3 crore after his success in Hangzhou. He added that several of Yadav’s peers had already secured government jobs.
Coach Says Athlete Faced Multiple Setbacks
Satyanarayana said the doping proceedings began with the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), before the matter was referred to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and action was taken by the Asian Paralympic Committee. He attributed the delay in the process to the appeal proceedings.
The coach expressed shock at Yadav’s death but said he could not establish the precise circumstances or reason behind it.
“I can’t speculate on the exact reason, but he was depressed on a number of counts,” Satyanarayana said, citing the loss of his medals, the associated cash award and his employment prospects.
He also said the exact substance Yadav allegedly consumed would be known only after the postmortem examination.
From Wheelchair Tennis To International Para-Athletics
Yadav had won three Asian Para Games gold medals during his career. He claimed the men’s javelin throw title at the 2018 Games in Jakarta before winning gold in both javelin and discus at Hangzhou in 2023. The two Hangzhou medals were subsequently withdrawn following the doping proceedings.
Diagnosed with post-polio residual paralysis at the age of seven, Yadav initially pursued wheelchair tennis before switching to para-athletics and establishing himself as an international competitor.
The F55 classification covers seated field events in para-athletics, including the shot put, discus and javelin.
