NAGOYA, Japan, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Uzbekistan's Nodirbek Shavkatov, a mixed martial arts bronze medalist at the 2026 Asian Games, has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for meldonium, the International Testing Agency (ITA) said Sunday.
The 23-year-old had finished third in the men's modern MMA 71kg event. The ITA said his sample was collected during an out-of-competition test in Japan on September 22.
Meldonium is prohibited at all times under World Anti-Doping Agency rules. Shavkatov is barred from competing, training, coaching or taking part in Games-related activities while provisionally suspended.
He can challenge the provisional suspension before the Court of Arbitration for Sport's Anti-Doping Division and request analysis of his B sample.
The ITA announcement did not address the status of Shavkatov's bronze medal.
Shavkatov is the first medalist and third athlete at these Games to return a positive doping test, following Thai badminton player Pitchamon Opatniputh and Turkmen karate athlete Dayanch Keletliyev. Both were also provisionally suspended. ■
