Srinagar, July 17: The Jammu and Kashmir government Friday said the non-selection of Wushu athlete Surya Bhanu Pratap Singh for appointment under S.O.-12 of 2022 was strictly in accordance with the notified rules, asserting that the decision was based on a statutory disqualification arising from an Anti-Doping Rule Violation.
In an official clarification, the Department of Youth Services and Sports said Singh’s sporting achievements and his representation of India and Jammu and Kashmir were acknowledged. However, it maintained that appointments under S.O.-12 of 2022 are governed solely by the eligibility conditions laid down in the rules.
The department said that during scrutiny of applications, achievements and eligibility of all applicants were verified through the concerned national and international sports federations and other competent authorities.
According to the department, 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 June 2019. It said the decision recorded the presence of prohibited substances—Mephentermine and Phentermine—in his sample, leading to his ineligibility, a period of suspension and disqualification of competitive results, including forfeiture of medals and awards.
The department further stated that applicants under S.O.-12 of 2022 were required to declare that they had not been found guilty of any Anti-Doping Rule Violation. It alleged that despite the international disciplinary decision, Singh submitted a declaration stating that he had not been found guilty of such a violation.
Citing Rule 4(ii) of S.O.-12 of 2022, the department said any applicant found guilty of an Anti-Doping Rule Violation is liable to be disqualified from the selection process, leaving no discretion with the Selection Committee to relax or ignore the provision.
It also said Singh had challenged the anti-doping decision before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), but the findings were not set aside and therefore remained binding.
The department said the athlete was given an opportunity to present his case and submit supporting documents before a reasoned decision was taken. It rejected allegations of arbitrariness, stating that the representation was examined on merit and the grounds for disqualification were duly communicated.
Reiterating that the recruitment process was conducted after multi-level scrutiny and verification, the department urged stakeholders not to circulate misleading or incomplete narratives. It said the government remains committed to promoting clean sport while ensuring strict enforcement of anti-doping norms and recruitment rules without exception.
