Archer Prathamesh Jawkar, Banned Over Doping Violation, Sings 'Maula Mere Lele Meri Jaan' on Instagram
Indian archer Prathamesh Jawkar, 22, has been handed a two-year ban for three 'whereabouts failures,' sidelining him until April 2028. The Asian Games gold medalist shared an emotional video singing 'Maula Mere Lele Meri Jaan' on Instagram, questioning his fate and acknowledging his 'sheer negligence' in updating his location on time.
Indian compound archer Prathamesh Jawkar, a gold medalist at the Asian Games, has taken to Instagram to express his feelings following a two-year ban imposed for three 'whereabouts failures' under anti-doping regulations. The 22-year-old athlete posted a video of himself singing the emotional track 'Maula Mere Lele Meri Jaan' from the film Chak De India, accompanying it with a caption that implicitly questioned the severity of his sanction.
"Did this cutie deserve this!?🥺 just because he couldn’t update his location on time? 👉👈 anyways, take notes, fellas," Jawkar wrote, referencing the reason behind his suspension. The International Testing Agency (ITA), acting on behalf of World Archery, announced the ban, which came into effect on April 19, 2026, and will keep him out of competitive archery until April 18, 2028.
Prathamesh Jawkar Posts Emotional Video
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The Doping Violation Explained
Jawkar's ban stems from a violation of Article 2.4 of the World Anti-Doping Code, which pertains to 'whereabouts failures.' Athletes in a Registered Testing Pool (RTP) are obligated to provide their daily location information and a specific 60-minute time slot for unannounced out-of-competition testing. A combination of three missed tests or filing failures within a 12-month period constitutes an Anti-Doping Rules Violation (ADRV).
The young archer admitted to missing deadlines to file his whereabouts on three occasions in the preceding year, specifically in January, July, and October. He cited turning off phone notifications as a reason for some failures and visa delays for travel to Italy as an explanation for another, which the ITA deemed insufficient.
Impact and Jawkar's Response
The two-year suspension means Jawkar is ineligible to compete in major international events, including the upcoming Asian Games and likely the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Furthermore, all his individual competitive results from October 1, 2025, onwards have been disqualified, including any medals, points, and prizes.
Despite the significant setback, Jawkar has accepted the consequences proposed by the ITA without challenging the decision. In an earlier statement, he acknowledged his fault, stating, "It is unfortunate but it is a fault from my side nonetheless." He also expressed hope that his case would serve as a lesson for other archers to meticulously adhere to anti-doping regulations.
This incident highlights the stringent responsibilities placed upon athletes in the Registered Testing Pool to maintain updated whereabouts information, emphasizing that negligence in this regard carries severe consequences.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 14, 2026 03:14 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).