Indian para-athlete Neeraj Yadav was found dead in Delhi, with authorities investigating the circumstances. His death comes after a doping suspension prevented him from competing at the 2026 Asian Para Games.
NEW DELHI, INDIA — WEB DESK: Indian para-athlete Neeraj Yadav, a three-time Asian Para Games gold medallist, has died at the age of 42 after being found dead in Delhi, according to Indian media reports. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.
S. Satyanarayana, head coach of India’s para-athletics team, confirmed the death and expressed shock. Reports citing the coach and other sources said the death was being treated as a suspected suicide, but the precise circumstances and cause had not been conclusively established in the initial reports. A post-mortem examination was underway at Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital in Delhi.
Neeraj Yadav’s Asian Para Games achievements
Yadav established himself as a leading Indian competitor in para-athletics, specialising in seated throwing events in the F55 classification.
He won gold in the men’s F55 javelin throw at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta. At the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Para Games, held in 2023, he won gold medals in both javelin and discus, taking his career total at the continental event to three golds.
Yadav was from Uttar Pradesh and was diagnosed with paralysis related to polio during childhood. He initially competed in wheelchair tennis before switching to para-athletics, where he went on to achieve international success.
Doping suspension affected his sporting career
Yadav’s later career was affected by an anti-doping case. Indian media reports said a sample collected during an out-of-competition test in 2023 tested positive for stanozolol, a prohibited anabolic steroid, leading to a suspension that prevented him from competing at the 2026 Asian Para Games in Japan.
Reports also said the Asian Paralympic Committee removed his two Hangzhou titles following the doping proceedings. The details of the case, including the final status of any appeals, should be checked against official anti-doping records before further conclusions are drawn.
Satyanarayana told media outlets that the suspension and its impact on Yadav’s sporting prospects had been difficult for the athlete. However, the coach did not establish that the doping case caused his death, and investigators had yet to confirm the circumstances.
Investigation into death continues
Authorities were investigating the case, with a post-mortem examination expected to help establish the cause of death. Initial reports differed in their descriptions of where Yadav was found, reinforcing the need to rely on official findings for a definitive account.
Yadav’s death has drawn attention to the career of an athlete who reached the Asian Para Games podium three times. Further details about the investigation and any official statement from sporting authorities remain awaited.
