Thai badminton player Pitchamon Opatniputh faces potential disciplinary action after her “B sample” tested positive for furosémide, a prohibited diuretic. The Thailand Ministry of Tourism and Sports confirmed the results on September 28, matching a previous positive “A sample” collected during the 20th Asian Games in Japan.
Furosémide confirmed in second sample analysis
Surasak Panjaroenvorakul of the Thailand Ministry of Tourism and Sports announced that the analysis of the athlete’s B sample yielded the same result as the A sample. Both tests confirmed the presence of furosémide, a substance listed as prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Panjaroenvorakul noted that these regulations apply to all athletes regardless of status.
Opatniputh was suspended from competition immediately after the initial A sample returned a positive result during the Asian Games in Japan. Following that notification, the athlete requested the analysis of her B sample, a standard procedure that can potentially avoid sanctions if the results differ. However, the Ministry confirmed the second test mirrored the first.
Potential sanctions and appeal options for Opatniputh
With the B sample confirming the presence of the banned diuretic, the Thailand Ministry of Tourism and Sports will now determine the appropriate disciplinary sanctions. Reports from Thai newspapers suggest the athlete could face a suspension of up to two years.
Opatniputh retains the right to appeal the findings to seek a reduction or elimination of the penalty. To do so, she must provide an explanation for how the substance entered her system. Possible defenses include the accidental ingestion of the substance through medical treatments, aesthetic procedures, or contaminated dietary supplements with undisclosed ingredients.
Career trajectory of the 19-year-old prospect
The doping violation comes as a setback for the 19-year-old, who is regarded as one of Thailand’s primary badminton hopes. Opatniputh’s record includes winning the World Junior Badminton Championships in 2023 and securing two team gold medals at the Southeast Asian Games at the ages of 15 and 17.
Her transition to the professional Badminton World Tour (BWF) has seen significant success, including a victory at the Baoji China Masters 2025 (Super 100). She also recorded runner-up finishes at the Orleans Masters 2026 (Super 300) and the Indonesia Masters 2026 (Super 500).
The next official step in the process is the formal review of disciplinary sanctions by the Thai sports authorities.
Keep reading
