The 19-year-old Thai badminton player, once called "An Se-young's role model," shows a "two-faced" side... First drug-related expulsion at the Asian Games: "B-sample also positive, blame it on cosmetic supplements" as an excuse

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Pichamon Opaphanipus (19), a member of the Thai national badminton team who became the first doping case detected at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, also tested positive in the retest (B-sample).

Thai media outlet "Thairath" reported on the 28th, citing remarks by the Minister of Tourism and Sports of Thailand, that the same banned substance found in the A-sample was detected in Opaphanipus's B-sample.

Previously, the International Testing Agency (ITA) announced on the 21st that it had provisionally suspended Opaphanipus after detecting the banned drug "furosemide" in her sample.

Furosemide can act as a "masking agent" by artificially increasing urine volume to lower the residual concentration of other banned substances in the body, making it a substance strictly controlled by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). If intentional drug use is confirmed, a severe sanction of up to four years of suspension is typically imposed.

Opaphanipus returned to Thailand without being able to compete in the Games. A promising player who has cited An Se-young as her role model, she is a 2023 World Junior Championships women's singles champion and currently ranked 18th in the world. She also earned the nickname "Thai Princess" for her striking appearance, but this drug detection has dealt a fatal blow to her athletic career.

The final level of sanction will be determined after future hearing proceedings. Local media raised the possibility that Opaphanipus may have unknowingly consumed a banned substance due to missing ingredient labeling while taking supplements or medications for cosmetic purposes.

Thairath predicted that Opaphanipus's side would initiate an appeal process to prove no fault, such as ingredient contamination, in order to receive a reduced sanction. However, the Thai sports community is reportedly in shock after this incident brought the disgrace of being the first doping case detected at the entire Nagoya Asian Games.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original