KUMAR Sharad

Classification
T42 (IPC, 11 Mar 2021)

Origin of Impairment
Acquired (Athlete, 16 Jul 2017)

Impairment Details
His impairment is the result of the effects of polio, diagnosed at age two. The illness caused paralysis in his left leg. (Athlete, 16 Jul 2017; thesalute.in, 06 Nov 2014)

General
TRAINING IN UKRAINE
In 2017 he began training in Ukraine. "Ukraine helped me manage myself in all ways. It taught me the real concept of high jump. It made me realise how a professional athlete trains and feels right before a competition. Training in Ukraine helped me realise that sportsmen are artists too. It was not just for me to feel good while jumping but also it was to let the people around enjoy a well-executed jump." (scroll.in, 15 Nov 2019; asianage.com, 02 Sep 2017)

SANCTION
He tested positive for the prohibited substance stanozolol at the 2012 Malaysian Open Championships. He was suspended for two years and missed the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. "I was devastated when I got to know about the doping charges against me. I felt ashamed that I would have to fight a doping case and miss the opportunity to participate in the London Paralympics. It was almost impossible to prove my innocence to the committee and the ban was inevitable. Those two years were a nightmare for me, but they have taught me a lot about the challenges of being a sportsperson in India." (thesalute.in, 06 Nov 2014)

FURTHER EDUCATION
He has completed a master's degree in international relations at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, India. He has also studied international business management at Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute in Ukraine. (scroll.in, 15 Nov 2019; Athlete, 23 Oct 2015; newindianexpress.com, 30 Apr 2020)