India's silver medal in the mixed relay event at the Asian Games 2018 is expected to be upgraded to gold after Bahrain's Kemi Adekoya was given a 4-year ban for failing a dope test by Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).
India's mixed relay team comprising Hima Das, Mohammad Anas, Arokia Rajiv and M R Poovamma had won silver at Jakarta Asian Games 2018. Bahrain's mixed relay team comprising Kemi Adekoya had won the gold in the event.
However, Kemi Adekoya failed his dope test and the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) informed that all of Adekoya's result between August 24 and November 26, 2018 will be nullified. This means that Bahrain's gold in the Asian Games mixed relay event will be disqualified. In the view of this, India which stood second in the event will get a chance to get their medal upgraded. India had officially complained against Bahrain's team for obstruction after the race but it was not accepted then.
India will also stand a chance to add another medal to its overall medal tally at the Asian Games 2018, as Kemi Adekoya had also won gold in the 400m hurdles at the Asian Games. India's Anu Raghavan had finished fourth in the event. With Adekoya's gold medal disqualified, Raghavan will be the line to be awarded bronze in the event.
India, which finished eighth at Asian Games 2018, ended up with its record-best medal haul in the history of Asian Games with a total of 69 medals including 15 gold, 24 silver and 30 bronze. With the addition of one extra gold medal, India will better its previous gold medal tally at Asian Games.
