Provisional suspension of dope-tainted athletes lifted

NEW DELHI - The 10 dope-tainted Indian athletes got a reprieve Wednesday after their provisional suspensions were lifted by the National Anti-Doping Agency’s (NADA) disciplinary panel.

The drug they were caught using - methylhexanamine - was shifted by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) from “non-specified” to “specified” category in its executive board meeting Sep 18.

The quantum of punishment in the specified list varies from a “let off with a warning” to a two-year ban whereas the non specified list invites serious punishment beginning from a two-year ban.

Methylhexnamine, for which 12 Indian athletes tested positive, was included in WADA’s list of prohibited substances this year.

While the 10 of them will now appear for a second hearing Saturday, other two athletes - weightlifter Sananmacha Chanu and swimmer Amar Muralidharan - will also be facing their first hearing the same day.

The hearing of all the athletes tested positive for methylhexanamine was to take place Wednesday.

“Under the specified list, there is no provisional suspension. So, the panel decided to drop their suspension. Now the hearing of all the athletes will take place Saturday to decide on their future,” NADA’s director-general Rahul Bhatnagar told IANS.

“Though their suspensions have been lifted, which may allow them to participate in the Commonwealth Games squad, I don’t think that ensures their participation in the Games. What if they get a ban for six months just two days before the Games?”

Meanwhile, netball player Megha Chaudhary has been exonerated. She tested positive for nandrolone.

“Megha has been exonerated as she explained that she has been using some medicines for feminine problem from a long time. She is now free to participate in any tournament,” Bhatnagar said.

Meanwhile, the respective federations of these athletes are not too keen to take these players back for the Commonwealth Games.

“We will take the final decision after their hearing Saturday. But it is too late and it is unlikely that they will now be reinstated in the Commonwealth Games team,” a source in the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) told IANS.

Wrestlers Rajiv Tomar, Sumit, Mausam Khatri, Gursharanpreet Kaur; athletes Saurabh Vij and Akash Antil; and swimmers Richa Mishra and Jyotsna Pansare tested positive for methylhexanamine

The others who tested positive for the same substance, but were not part of Commonwealth Games squad were Rahul Mann and Joginder Singh (wrestling), Muralidharan (swimming) and Chanu (weightlifting).