Indian para-athletics has been thrown into mourning following the death of Neeraj Yadav, a celebrated athlete and three-time Asian Para Games gold medallist, who was found dead in Delhi at the age of 42.
Yadav was discovered beside his SUV near Maujpur Metro Station in northeast Delhi on Monday night. He was reportedly rushed to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, where medical personnel pronounced him dead.
Police confirmed that they received information about the incident shortly after midnight on Tuesday. Investigations have commenced to establish the circumstances surrounding his death, while a post-mortem examination is expected to provide further details.
The athlete’s death comes during a difficult period in his career, as he was serving a four-year suspension imposed after testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance in 2023.
According to reports, a sample collected from Yadav during an out-of-competition test in Bengaluru returned positive for stanozolol, an anabolic steroid. Although he challenged the result and requested DNA testing during the disciplinary process, India’s National Anti-Doping Agency eventually handed him the four-year ban.
The suspension ruled him out of the 2026 Asian Para Games in Japan. Reports also indicated that the two gold medals he won at the 2023 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou were withdrawn following the doping proceedings, alongside the government cash rewards attached to the victories.
India’s para-athletics head coach, S Satyanarayana, expressed sadness over the development, suggesting that missing the latest Asian Para Games may have been emotionally difficult for the athlete.
He explained that Yadav would likely have been eager to compete in Japan, particularly because medal winners at the competition could receive substantial financial rewards from the government.
Yadav’s journey in sports began despite being diagnosed with post-polio residual paralysis at the age of seven. He initially competed in wheelchair tennis between 2005 and 2012 before switching to para-athletics.
His breakthrough came in 2015 when he won three gold medals in shot put, javelin and discus at the Delhi State Athletics Meet.
He later established himself internationally at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta, where he won gold in the men’s F55 javelin event with an Asian record of 29.84 metres. He added two more gold medals in javelin and discus at the 2023 edition in Hangzhou.
Beyond his sporting career, Yadav operated the Anshneer Sports Academy in Sonipat, Haryana. He is survived by his wife and three-year-old daughter.
Police have commenced proceedings under Section 194 of India’s criminal code, which provides for inquiries into suspected suicides. However, authorities have yet to establish the cause of death.
Yadav’s death has also renewed attention on India’s ongoing anti-doping challenges. The country’s athletics federation was recently moved into the highest-risk category by World Athletics following repeated doping violations between 2022 and 2025.
