Key Takeaways
- Inam Butt, secretary of Pakistan Wrestling Federation, withdraws from Asian Games 2026.
- Butt tested positive for a prohibited substance during Asian Beach Games in China.
- Case under review by World Anti-Doping Agency.
Renowned Pakistani wrestler Inam Butt has withdrawn from the upcoming Asian Games 2026 in Japan following a positive doping test. Butt, who serves as secretary of the Pakistan Wrestling Federation, was set to travel with the national wrestling contingent as a coach for the Games, which will commence on September 19.
The development comes days after reports emerged that Butt had tested positive for a prohibited substance during the Asian Beach Games held in China in April. The case is currently under review by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which is examining his explanation and medical records before deciding on the next course of action.
Sources close to Butt previously maintained that he had not knowingly taken any performance-enhancing substance. They said he had been using prescribed medication while receiving treatment for an eye-related condition before the competition. Butt reportedly submitted details of the medication, medical scans, and prescriptions from his doctors to WADA. Sources also claimed that he had previously been granted permission to use the medication for one year.
No suspension or ban has been announced so far, with the final decision depending on WADA’s assessment of the medical evidence and the circumstances surrounding the case. Following Butt’s withdrawal from the Asian Games, Arshad Sattar will accompany the Pakistani wrestlers as coach and manager.
Pakistan will field four wrestlers at the event. Muhammad Abdullah will compete in the 65kg category, Inayatullah in the 74kg category, Nauman Zaka in the 86kg category, and Muhammad Gulzar in the 97kg category. The national wrestling team’s training camp is currently underway in Islamabad under the supervision of Usman Shahid and Azhar Hussain.
The team is scheduled to leave for Japan on September 27, while the wrestling competitions will take place on October 3. The withdrawal of Butt from the team has raised concerns about the integrity of the national wrestling program and the measures in place to prevent doping.
