India keeper Paul denies taking banned substance

Kolkata: Veteran India and DSK Shivajians goalkeeper Subrata Paul has firmly denied taking a banned substance after the All India Football Federation (AIFF) confirmed that it has received a report of him failing a dope test.

According to reports, Paul’s sample, tested by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), had traces of terbutaline. Terbutaline is a bronchodilator and is taken when people have trouble breathing or a medical condition such as asthma.

“I have played football for a long time and I have done these tests like 15 times before. Never have I failed one, and at the age of 30 I won’t do anything like this,” Paul, who has over 60 caps for the national team and is an Arjuna Award winner, told reporters. (IANS)