Railways Runner Jayesh Patil Faces Provisional Suspension for Doping Violation

Railways athlete Jayesh Patil has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for meldonium, a banned substance, during the National Cross Country Championships. This incident has sparked controversy, particularly following allegations of impersonation during the event. The Athletics Federation of India has since revised the results, declaring new winners. Read on to discover the full details of this unfolding scandal in the world of athletics.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 6, 2026, 04:30 IST

Doping Controversy in Cross Country Athletics

In a recent doping scandal, cross country athlete Jayesh Patil, representing Railways, has been provisionally suspended by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA). This announcement comes as part of the latest updates released by the agency.

Jayesh secured a fifth-place finish in the 10km event at the 60th National Cross Country Championships held in Ranchi this January. However, his sample tested positive for meldonium, a substance classified as prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) due to its performance-enhancing properties that aid endurance.

The championship race took place on January 24 in Namkum, Ranchi, and concluded with significant controversy, as the results were altered following allegations of impersonation.

At the finish line, Services’ Raghunandan Singh claimed second place behind Harmanjot Singh, while Ankit finished fourth, leading the Services team to be crowned overall champions.

During the victory ceremony, an individual appeared to accept the silver medal on Raghunandan's behalf, prompting the Railways team to raise concerns about impersonation. They lodged a formal complaint with the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), providing video evidence that confirmed the runner and the medal recipient were not the same person.

It was later revealed that Raghunandan had sent the same person for doping tests at the event. Consequently, the AFI disqualified his results and released a revised standings list, declaring Harmanjot as the winner, followed by Punit, Ankit, Panchanan Bera, and Jayesh. The Railways team was ultimately recognized as the overall champions.