Asian Games MMA medalist caught doping for the first time... Uzbek athlete detected banned substance
2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games MMA bronze medalist tests positive for meldonium
Quick Look
Uzbekistan's Nordirbek Shavkatov, MMA bronze medalist at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, was temporarily suspended after testing positive for the banned substance meldonium.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
A doping violation occurred while the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games were in progress.
(Nagoya = Yonhap News) Reporter Dae-ho Lee = The first case of a medalist failing a doping test occurred at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
AFP news agency announced on the 27th that Uzbekistan's Nodyrbek Shavkatov, who won the bronze medal in the men's 71kg event in mixed martial arts (MMA) at this tournament, was temporarily suspended after testing positive for a banned substance.
Meldonium, a banned drug used to treat heart disease and has the effect of improving endurance and promoting muscle recovery, was detected in Shavkatov's sample.
Shavkatov is the third athlete to be disciplined for doping in this competition, and the first athlete to win a medal.
The day before, Turkmenistan's Dayanci Keletliev, who competed in karate, tested positive for the same ingredient, meldonium.
Shavkatov can appeal this temporary suspension and request another sample analysis.
If this sample is confirmed to be positive, it is expected that the medal will be taken away.
Korea's Choi Eun-seok lost to Shavkatov in the quarterfinals, ending the tournament.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
If additional samples test positive, the medal will be forfeited.
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- What are the results of additional sample analysis?
