Pitchamon Provisionally Suspended From 2026 Asian Games Over Doping Test

A massive blow has struck the Thai National Badminton team just as the stakes reach their peak. Rising star Pitchamon Opatniputh has been provisionally suspended from the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya following a positive doping test, forcing an immediate halt to her tournament campaign.

The International Testing Agency (ITA) officially announced that an in-competition sample collected from the Thai shuttler on September 17 in Nagoya returned an Adverse Analytical Finding for Furosemide. Under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) guidelines, Furosemide is classified as a banned diuretic and masking agent, strictly prohibited as it can be used to conceal the presence of other performance-enhancing substances.

Effective immediately, Pitchamon is barred from all Asian Games activities. In accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) anti-doping regulations, the provisional suspension prevents her from competing, training, coaching, or participating in any official capacity while the investigation is ongoing.

The young athlete retains the right to challenge the provisional suspension before the Court of Arbitration for Sport Anti-Doping Division (CAS ADD). She also has the right to request the analysis of her B-sample. The ITA has declined to provide further commentary while the legal and analytical processes remain active.

Despite the setback, Thailand's women's team is set to continue their campaign in the quarter-finals against China on Tuesday.

The tie will feature three singles matches: team veteran Ratchanok Intanon, the squad's world No. 1 player, taking on world No. 2 Wang Zhiyi; Pornpawee Chochuwong, the team's second singles option, facing world No. 4 Chen Yufei; and Supanida Katethong, the team's third singles player, up against world No. 9 Han Yue.

Credit Photo : BAT