Judoka, kabaddi players banned for 4 years

NEW DELHI: National Anti Doping Agency (Nada) has suspended some of India’s promising athletes and para athletes and maintained the ban period in a few cases.


Judoka Akshay, who was part of India’s Hangzhou Asian Games-bound squad last year, and national-level kabaddi player Rohit Singh Tomar have been handed four-year ineligibility periods by Nada’s anti-doping disciplinary panel (ADDP) for their doping offences.

Their urine samples revealed the presence of metandienone LTM, an anabolic androgenic steroid. Their tests were conducted in-competition by Nada’s dope control officers.

In one of its harshest punishments, the ADDP banned a state-level weightlifter for a period of six years starting Feb 6, 2024, after he tested positive for multiple prohibited substances – epitrenbolone, enobosarm (Ostarine) and mephentermine and its metabolite phenter mine stimulants.

The name of the lifter hasn’t been revealed for being a minor.

Another state-level boxer, Bhawna, was banned for four years as she tested positive for ligandrol metabolite dihydroxy anabolic agents. Bhawna had participated in the senior boxing Nationals last year.

Para canoe athlete Rajni Jha, who was part of the Paris Paralympics-bound contingent before her name was struck off on the suspicion of doping, saw her appeal against her one-year suspension rejected by the Nada’s anti-doping appeals panel (ADAP).

Rajni had pleaded that her supplement was contaminated despite bearing the seal of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). However, Rajni’s appeal was dismissed on the ground of her “negligent” behaviour and her ban period wasn’t reduced.

She was tested out-of-competition on March 30 in Bhopal. Her urine sample revealed the presence of methyltestosterone metabolites.

In another case, ADAP provided relief to para track and field athlete Manjeet. The panel stayed the suspension order of the ADDP and exonerated him from all doping charges.

It was established that Manjeet didn’t take the prohibited food supplement intentionally and was let off with a warning by the appeals panel.



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