Vijender Singh ordered to have drugs test over heroin claims

Indian middleweight boxer Vijender Singh has been ordered to take an out-of-competition drugs test due to claims over heroin use.

Punjab Police are believed to have stated that the 27-year-old had taken heroin on 12 occasions, which has prompted the sports ministry to inform the National Anti-Doping Agency.

"Such reports in respect of a sporting icon are disturbing and may have a debilitating influence on other sportspersons in the country," Yahoo! Sport quotes a statement as saying.

"It has, therefore, been considered necessary that NADA gets a test carried out on Vijender Singh for his reported use of heroin even out-of-competition."

Police are thought to have been told of Singh's drug use by a fellow boxer last month.