Asian Para Games gold medalist Neeraj Yadav has tragically died by suicide, reportedly by consuming poison at his home in New Delhi. Sources close to the athlete suggest he was under immense stress after being suspended for doping, which led to his exclusion from the Indian team for the upcoming Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games.

Yadav's body was taken to a Delhi hospital for post-mortem examination on Wednesday. The exact reasons for his extreme step are still under investigation. S. Satyanarayana, Chief Coach of the Indian Para-Athletics team, confirmed the news, stating he had been in contact with Yadav since the doping case emerged after the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Para Games.

“Neeraj committed suicide. It is very unfortunate. I had a close relationship with him. I was constantly in touch with him since his name came up in the doping case,” Satyanarayana told PTI. The 42-year-old athlete, competing in the F55 category, was serving a four-year ban after testing positive for a prohibited substance. This ban resulted in him losing his two gold medals (javelin throw and discus throw) won at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Para Games, along with government prize money and a potential government job.

Satyanarayana further explained, “After the doping case, he was under a lot of stress. He was banned for four years. A few months ago, he asked me if he could participate in the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games selection trials. I told him it was not possible as his suspension period had not yet ended.” The coach highlighted that the doping incident severely impacted Yadav's career and financial stability. He had been promised a government job in Uttar Pradesh and prize money exceeding Rs 3 crore after his Hangzhou victories.

Expressing his sorrow, Satyanarayana noted, “I cannot tell the exact reason, but he was depressed for many reasons. He was shocked to lose two gold medals. Not receiving prize money and a job were two other reasons.” Yadav, who overcame polio at age seven to become a celebrated para-athlete, had won three Asian Para Games gold medals in total. His journey from wheelchair tennis to international para-athletics was an inspiration, making his untimely demise a profound loss to the sporting community.

Disclaimer: This story is sourced from a syndicated agency feed and has been refined using artificial intelligence to improve readability. Please note that this article was published automatically and has not undergone a human editorial review.