ISLAMABAD, July 29: The Pakistan hockey squad and a shooter will be participating in the forthcoming Beijing Olympic Games without being dope tested while Pakistan’s swimmers and athletes have cleared there tests.

While confirming the 35-member Beijing-bound Pakistani contingent’s departure on July 31, Chairman, Anti-Doping Organisation of Pakistan (ADOP) Dr Waqar told Dawn on Tuesday: “The Pakistan hockey team, comprising 16 members, is the largest in the Olympic contingent and we sent letters to the Pakistan Hockey Federation as well as the shooter but are yet to receive their replies,” he said.

The swimmers Adil Baig and Kiran Khan were given a wild card entry to the discipline in the Beijing Olympic Games. Pakistan is also competing on a wild card in athletics and shooting.

The two athletes Abdul Rasheed and Sadaf Siddiqui too have already cleared their dope tests.

Regarding the swimmers’ test, the chairman said: “Their tests were sent to the World Anti Doping Agency some two weeks back and we received the good news about their clearing it today.

“I am only hopeful that Pakistan will not face any doping issues at the Olympic Games,” the ADOP chairman concluded.

Opinion

Editorial

Khamenei’s killing
Updated 02 Mar, 2026

Khamenei’s killing

THERE is no question about it: with the brutal assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and...
NFC reform
02 Mar, 2026

NFC reform

PLANNING Minister Ahsan Iqbal’s call for forward-looking reforms in the NFC Award has reopened an important debate...
Migrant crisis
02 Mar, 2026

Migrant crisis

MIGRANT casualties represent the lifelong pain of families left behind. Yet countries do little to preserve ...
A new war
Updated 01 Mar, 2026

A new war

UNLESS there is an immediate diplomatic breakthrough, the joint Israeli-American aggression against Iran launched on...
Breaking the cycle
01 Mar, 2026

Breaking the cycle

THE confrontation between Pakistan and Afghanistan has taken a dangerous turn. Attacks, retaliatory strikes and the...
Anonymous collections
01 Mar, 2026

Anonymous collections

THE widespread emergence of ‘nameless donation boxes’ soliciting charity in cities and towns across Punjab...