08-07-2025
Reetika Hooda, who made history as India's top heavyweight wrestler, suspended for doping
Paris Olympian, Asian Championship silver medallist and junior world champion wrestler Reetika Hooda has been provisionally suspended for one year after she tested positive for a banned drug.
A promising heavyweight wrestler in the 76kg weight category — one of the few from the country to succeed in the higher categories — Reetika was handed a provisional suspension on July 7 after her sample, collected by the National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) during the selection trials in New Delhi, returned positive. The substance is yet to be known. Taking note of Reetika's failed dope test and the consequent action taken by NADA, the United World Wrestling (UWW) has suspended the 22-year-old until July 7, 2026.
Hailing from the same academy where the Rio Olympics medallist Sakshi Malik learnt her craft, Reetika became the first from India to book a quota in the heaviest Olympic weight class for women at last year's Paris Olympics, where she lost in the quarterfinals. In October 2023, Reetika achieved another first for the country after being crowned the Under-23 World Champion. And earlier this year, she reached the final of the Asian Championship and returned with a silver medal.
She was set to compete at the Ranking Series tournament in Budapest, starting July 17, and later in the World Championships in September. However, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) officials said she has been asked to leave the ongoing national camp at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi.
Along with Reetika, two other wrestlers from the same academy as hers in Rohtak, have tested positive and been provisionally suspended.
