The long distance runner, who has not been identified, has been put under provisional suspension
Nagpur: The glorious athletics tradition of Nagpur has been tarnished once again as an international athlete from the city has been caught in ‘doping’. She is the third overall runner from Nagpur and the second female runner after Rohini Raut to get involved in ‘doping’, according to reports in local media. The sports field of Nagpur has been shaken due to this incident. The matter came to light at a time when a bill was recently introduced in the Lok Sabha with the intention of making the sport ‘doping’ free. Currently, she has been temporarily banned.
The long distance runner of Nagpur has been tested positive for a banned substance and has been put under provisional suspension by National Anti Doping Agency (NADA), reports said. The athlete is the second in the last few years to test positive after Rohini Raut was banned for using a prohibited substance. She has served her ban period till 2020 and is now eligible to participate in competition.
According to reports, this athlete, who has won several national and international medals for India, Maharashtra as well as for Nagpur, has used prohibited substances, it has been learnt. The name of the athlete has been withheld since the legal proceedings are on and the athlete is in process of analysing her B Sample.
According to information received here, National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) had asked this athlete for a urine sample during the in-competition test at Khelo India University Games held at Bengaluru in May, 2022. The result of the test came in the month of July and according to A Sample, prohibited substance 19- Norandrosterone was found during the urine test from the athlete, an Athletics Federation of India official said on condition of anonymity.
This steroid, found in athletes, is used to enhance muscle strength and has been banned by the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) for the past 30 years. The athlete has 15 days to reply to the National Anti Doping Agency and will have to inform the agency within seven days whether she wants to go for the B Sample test. If the athlete fails to reply in stipulated time, it would be deemed that the athlete has accepted taking the banned drug and, according to NADA, will be suspended for four years.
However, if the athlete replies and accepts taking the banned substance, then NADA can reduce the suspension by one year. If the B Sample analysis is requested by the athlete, it shall be performed in the same WADA Accredited laboratory which performed the A Sample analysis according to the International Standard for Laboratories. The athlete will have to pay 400 Euros (around Rs 32,500) for tests.
It would be interesting to see whether action would also be initiated on the coach of the athlete, who has been tested positive.
