Thai Badminton Star Suspended for Banned Substance
Thai badminton player Pichayamol Opasinipat has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for the banned diuretic furosemide, making her ineligible for the 2026 Asian Games. She can challenge the suspension at the Court of Arbitra
Thai badminton player Pichayamol Opasinipat has been provisionally suspended by the International Testing Agency (ITA) after testing positive for a banned substance, making her ineligible for the 2026 Asian Games. The ITA, operating on behalf of the Olympic Council of Asia, confirmed that Pichayamol's sample, collected during out-of-competition testing on September 17 in Nagoya, tested positive for furosemide. Furosemide is classified as a diuretic and masking agent under WADA's S5 category and is banned at all times, both in and out of competition. Following notification of the positive result, Pichayamol was immediately placed on provisional suspension, preventing her from competing, training, coaching, or participating in any activities related to the 2026 Asian Games. However, this remains an ongoing case and is not yet a final disciplinary decision. Pichayamol retains the right to challenge the provisional suspension before the Court of Arbitration for Sport's Anti-Doping Division (CAS ADD) and may request analysis of her B-sample. The ITA stated it will not comment further as the case is still under investigation.
