MMA Bronze Medalist from Uzbekistan Tests Positive for Doping... First Medalist Caught at Asian Games

The first case of a medalist failing a doping test has occurred at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

AFP reported today (27th) that Nodirbek Shavkatov of Uzbekistan, who won the bronze medal in the men's 71kg mixed martial arts (MMA) event at the games, has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for a banned substance.

Meldonium, a banned substance used as a heart medication with effects of improving endurance and promoting muscle recovery, was detected in Shavkatov's sample.

Shavkatov is the third athlete to be disciplined for a doping violation at this tournament, and the first among medalists.

Yesterday, Dayanch Keletliyev of Turkmenistan, competing in karate, tested positive for the same substance, meldonium.

Shavkatov can appeal the provisional suspension and request the analysis of a B sample.

If the B sample also confirms a positive result, Shavkatov is expected to be stripped of his medal.

South Korea's Choi Eun-seok was eliminated from the tournament after losing to Shavkatov in the quarterfinals.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.