Bengaluru: Well-established Indian distance-running coach Yunus Khan, who has trained some of the country’s leading endurance athletes including Gulveer Singh and marathon national record holder Sawan Barwal, has been provisionally suspended by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) on a charge of complicity.
DH has learnt that the action concerns a reference letter purportedly issued by Khan to allow dope-suspended athlete Kartik Kumar to train at a training facility in Uttarakhand.
Athletes serving doping suspensions are prohibited from competing or training during the suspension period. The matter reportedly came to NADA’s attention, prompting the provisional suspension pending disciplinary proceedings.
However, it is learnt that Khan has denied signing any such letter for the athlete to use the facilities. The experienced Army coach remains confident he will clear his name when NADA’s disciplinary panel hears the matter. If the charge is established, Khan could face a two-year suspension.
The 28-year-old Army coach is often credited with unearthing some of the top long-distance running talent of the country, which prominently includes Gulveer, who won silver in the 10,000m and bronze in the 5,000m at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, besides securing three medals at the recent Asian Games. Gulveer currently trains under US coach Scott Simmons in Colorado Springs while Khan has often assisted the American coach given his familiarity with the Indian runners.
Barwal, meanwhile, ended India’s 44-year wait for an Asian Games men’s marathon medal by winning silver in Japan, improving his own national record to 2:11:37.
Khan has worked extensively with distance runners at the Army Sports Institute in Pune and in the Wellington-Coonoor training region of Tamil Nadu.