Providence saved India from major embarrassment in the international sporting arena after top discus thrower Seema Antil pulled out of the Asian Games after failing a dope test.

Antil apparently tested positive for a banned steroid in an out-of-competition test during a training camp in Muscat, where part of the Indian athletics contingent trained for the Games earlier this week.

It is learnt that the Commonwealth silver medallist returned home straight from Muscat.

Had she been part of the Indian contingent at Doha, the development would have jolted the athletes' morale and affected their performance as competition enters the second day on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Indian Olympic Association secretary Randhir Singh expressed surprise when informed about the development.

"I am surprised, I have no idea about Seema's positive dope test. I met WADA officials this [Sunday] morning and they said nothing about it," Randhir, who is in Doha with the Indian contingent, said.

''If that happens somewhere then that is news for me,'' he added.

The 23-year-old Haryana girl had earlier too tested positive for a banned substance and was stripped of the gold medal she won at the World Junior Championships in Chile in 2000.