In a shocking revelation, Sanjita Chanu, a champion of the Commonwealth Games, has been hit with a four-year suspension by NADA’s panel for testing positive for banned substances. It’s an unfortunate twist in her journey, proving that even the mighty can fall.
Why did it happen?
During the National Games in Gujarat last year, the athlete, who is 29 years old, underwent a doping test and was found to have tested positive for Drostanolone Metabolite, an anabolic steroid that appears on the prohibited list of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
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The said test was conducted while the athlete was in competition and took place on September 30, 2022.
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What did NADA say regarding this matter?
”…. it is held that the Athlete has violated Article 2.1 & 2.2 of the NADA ADR, 2021, she is hereby sanctioned with an ineligibility of four (04) years as per Article 10.2.1 of the NADA ADR, 2021,”- As per the ruling issued by the NADA Anti-Doping Disciplinary panel, overseen by Chairperson Chaitanya Mahajan and comprised of three members…
– Sanjita was said to serve her ban starting on November 12, 2022, coinciding with the date of her provisional suspension, as announced. A formal and business-like delivery is appropriate.
– “The period of ineligibility shall commence from the date of provisional suspension i.e,12.11.2022. It shall be noted that the athlete has failed to satisfy the panel that the ADRV was non-intentional as per Article 10.2.1.1 of the NADA ADR, 2023.”
– Sanjita is faced with a significant setback as a result of the positive test, which will lead to the forfeiture of her National Games silver medal.
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“As per Article 10.10 of the NADA ADR, 2021, the athlete is hereby disqualified of all of the individual results obtained in the said Event with all Consequences, including forfeiture of all medals, points, and prizes since 30-09-2022,”- According to the order dated March 31, Sanjita, who appeared on her own behalf during the disciplinary panel hearings, was unavailable for comment.
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Her victories in Weight Lifting
Sanjita emerged victorious in the 48kg category, defeating Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Mirabai Chanu at the highly acclaimed 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. She continued her streak of success by clinching the title in the 53kg category at the 2018 CWG in Gold Coast.
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As per the decision of the disciplinary panel, Sanjita may choose to appeal by approaching the appeals panel of the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) within 21 days from the date of receiving the ruling.
Sanjita maintained her innocence during the hearing and denied any intentional consumption of prohibited substances. She provided evidence to support her claim that she exercised utmost care and caution while consuming food and supplements.
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Final Decision
The panel said that ”the present case appears to be a case of systematic doping where the athlete used the prohibited substance.”
”In the absence of any medical evidence that the athlete has consumed such prohibited substance through adulterated food, supplement or medicine, the only reasonable conclusion (is) that the athlete has intentionally consumed the said prohibited substance to enhance strength and power,” the panel, which also has former India hockey forward Jagbir Singh and R K Arya as its members, ruled.
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The athlete, who won a bronze medal at the 2011 Asian Championship, has been previously involved in a doping controversy. In 2018, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) imposed a ban on her due to her testing positive for anabolic steroid testosterone before the World Championships held in the United States in November 2017.
The doping charge against Sanjita was dropped by the international organization in 2020 due to discrepancies in the handling of her sample.
”I have been in this situation before. But I am not able to understand how this has happened. Since that incident (relating to IWF), I have been very careful about my diet and everything. I check my supplements carefully and ask if they are free of all dope,”- she told about PTI of her positive drug test, resulting in a four-year ban being imposed upon her.
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