Prathamesh Jawkar, a compound archer who was part of India's gold medal-winning team at the 2022 Asian Games, has accepted a two-year ban for three whereabouts failures within a 12-month period, the International Testing Agency (ITA) confirmed on Friday.
Details of the Ban
The 24-year-old archer, who along with Ojas Pravin Deotale and Abhishek Verma secured the gold medal in the men's compound team event at the Hangzhou Asian Games, committed three whereabouts failures between November 2024 and October 2025. Under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules, three missed tests or filing failures within 12 months constitute an anti-doping rule violation.
Jawkar's Response
Jawkar accepted the sanction and waived his right to a hearing. The ban, which began on 6 June 2026, will keep him out of competition until 5 June 2028. He will also forfeit any medals, points, and prize money won from the date of the third failure.
The ITA, which manages the anti-doping program for archery, stated that the archer's failures included two missed tests and one filing failure. The case highlights the strict liability principle under which athletes are responsible for their whereabouts information and availability for testing.
Impact on Career
This ban is a significant setback for Jawkar, who was considered one of India's rising stars in compound archery. His absence will be felt in upcoming international events, including the 2026 Asian Games and World Championships. The Archery Association of India has not yet commented on the development.
Jawkar's case serves as a reminder to athletes about the importance of complying with anti-doping whereabouts requirements. The ITA emphasized that the rules are in place to ensure fair play and clean sport.
