SRINAGAR : The Jammu and Kashmir Department of Youth Services and Sports on Friday defended the disqualification of Wushu player Surya Bhanu Pratap Singh from appointment under the Outstanding Sports Persons quota, saying the decision was taken strictly in accordance with the provisions of S.O.-12 of 2022 after verification of his anti-doping record.
The clarification came after Singh alleged on various media platforms that he had been denied selection despite his achievements in the sport.
In an official statement, the department acknowledged Singh’s contributions as a Wushu athlete who represented both India and Jammu and Kashmir and won medals during his career. However, it maintained that appointments under S.O.-12 of 2022 are governed by statutory rules, under which eligibility is determined by prescribed criteria and not sporting achievements alone.
The department said Singh had applied for appointment under the sports quota and, like all applicants, his credentials were subjected to detailed scrutiny and verification through the concerned national and international sports federations and other competent authorities.
According to the department, the verification established that Singh had been found guilty of an Anti-Doping Rule Violation by the International Wushu Federation (IWUF) Anti-Doping Disciplinary Committee in Doping Case No. 2018-IC-01 through an order issued on June 4, 2019.
It said the disciplinary committee had detected the prohibited substances Mephentermine and Phentermine in his sample. Under Article 10.2 of the IWUF Anti-Doping Rules, Singh was declared ineligible for a specified period, while his results at the concerned event were disqualified, leading to forfeiture of medals, awards, ranking points and other sporting benefits.
The department further stated that every applicant under S.O.-12 of 2022 is required to submit a declaration affirming that they have not been found guilty of any Anti-Doping Rule Violation. It alleged that Singh submitted such a declaration despite the existence of the international disciplinary order against him.
It said Rule 4(ii) of S.O.-12 of 2022 explicitly disqualifies any applicant found guilty of an Anti-Doping Rule Violation, leaving no discretion with the Selection Committee to relax or ignore the provision.
The statement also clarified that while Singh had challenged the disciplinary action before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the anti-doping findings were not overturned and therefore remained valid.
Rejecting allegations of arbitrary action, the department said Singh had been given an opportunity to present his case and submit supporting documents. His representation was examined before the competent authority passed a reasoned order communicating the grounds of his disqualification.
Reiterating its commitment to transparency and fairness, the department said recruitment under S.O.-12 of 2022 was conducted through multi-level scrutiny in accordance with the notified rules. It urged stakeholders to avoid circulating misleading or incomplete information that overlooks the statutory framework governing the recruitment process.
The department added that the government remains committed to promoting clean sport and ensuring that recruitment under the sports quota is carried out uniformly while upholding anti-doping regulations and the principles of fairness and integrity.
