Teenager cops five-year ban after testing positive for five banned substances

A 16-year-old weightlifter has been banned for five years by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) after he admitted to violating the National Anti-Doping Rules, 2021. As many as five prohibited substances were detected in his urine sample. It is tough to decide which shocks more, the age of the weightlifter or the number of banned substances.

You may be chuckling when you consider that it is possible that the only other place that these five substances – Metandienone; Trenbolone: Mephentermine; GHRP-6; Drostanolone – appear together is the WADA list of prohibited substances. Yet, you will be concerned for the long-term health of the teenaged weightlifter and ask if sporting success worth taking such risks?

Simple online searches reveal that Trenbolone can cause psychological distress and verbal aggression, Drostanolone and Metandienone can lead to liver damage, Mephentermine can be the reason for arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) and Growth Harmone-releasing peptide 6 (GHRP-6) can result in harmonal imbalances. 

Would the athlete have taken multiple prohibited substances unilaterally? To my mind, it is more likely that the athlete was guided by someone else to infuse the cocktail of banned substances into the system. An investigation into this aspect can lead to some expected but still startling discoveries. Exemplary punishments for such person/s may help India lower incidence of doping.

Investigate the supply chain

It is not known if NADA’s Intelligence and Investigation team has spent time talking to the athlete in question to try and identify the supply chain. Indeed, NADA has had at least 244 opportunities to speak with athletes who admitted doping violations and secured a reduced sanction through Case Resolution Agreements. And none of them has seemingly led to identifying the supply chain.

Talking of doping among minors, the situation is alarming indeed. The NADA website reveals that as many as 25 have admitted doping and entered into Case Resolution Agreements (CRA) since 2023, 15 have been sanctioned by National Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panels since 2022 and at least 17 are currently on NADA’s list of athletes placed on Provisional Suspension.

The 16-year-old, born on January 10, 2008, is the fourth youngest athlete currently ineligible to take part in sporting activity. A boxer, born on October 12, 2008, has the dubious distinction of being the youngest athlete serving a doping related ban. A weightlifter and a Wushu athlete are the other two 2008-born who are currently barred from taking part in sport

Tardy result management process

A six-year ban stared the athlete in the face and only an ‘early admission’ of guilt secured a one-year reduction in the ineligibility period. 

A moot question is why it took so long for NADA to enter into a CRA with the athlete, considering that he was placed on provisional suspension before January 13. NADA Anti-Doping Rules specify that athletes’ periods of ineligibility may be reduced by a year if they admit a doping rule violation and accept the asserted period of ineligibility within 20 days of receiving notice of charge.

The mystery deepens since CRAs have to be concluded with WADA assent as well. It raises the question if WADA itself is either a party to the delays or has been engaged in paying attention to other cases. Unmindful of the reason, WADA must step up to ensure a faster dispensation of the cases in India.

There are nearly 100 athletes and support personnel on provisional suspension. How soon can NADA ensure that these cases are dealt with? Considering that only three cases have been resolved by ADDP since NADA shared its previous list in April, the pace at which progress has happened does nor infuse confidence that the adjudication will be complete within three months.

In seven weeks since April 30, National Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panels have published but three orders relating to Deepika and Anit (Boxing), and Nikita (Wrestling). Each of them has been sanctioned four years ineligibility. Besides, NADA has announced Case Resolution Agreements with 16 athletes.

IWLF excludes Naman Chaudhary from results of Nagorta Nationals

Meanwhile, the Indian Weightlifting Federation has revised the results of the National Youth and Junior Championships in Nagorta. Naman Chaudhary (Uttar Pradesh) who lifted a total of 272kg to finish first in the Youth +102kg class and second in Junior 109kg class finds himself excluded from the updated list. 

Ironically, it was the second time that the results of the Junior Men’s 109kg class have been revised. Haryana’s 18-year-old Prince Ruhil, who stood on top of the podium, also finds his name excluded from the results sheet. IWLF does not specify the reason for the revisions, but it can be guessed that the decision to annul the results of these teenagers has its roots in anti-doping sanctions.

As many as 53 weightlifters have entered into CRAs with NADA and secured a reduction in their ineligibility periods, having admitted their guilt, while 21 weightlifters are currently serving bans imposed them by National Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panels and 12 are on provisional suspension currently.